Mike Pence rallies voters in Colorado Springs

Five days after Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump paid a visit to Colorado Springs, his running mate, Mike Pence, rallied voters Wednesday night.

“We will not relent until we make Donald Trump the 45th president of the United States of America,” Pence said to hundreds at the Antlers Hotel. “For the sake of our security, for the sake of our prosperity, for the sake of our God-given liberties, Hillary Clinton will not be the president of the United States of America.”

His visit to Colorado Springs is a sign of just how important Colorado will be in the November election. But after controversies in the Trump campaign, including remarks about a Gold Star family and his assertion during an Ohio rally that the election might be rigged, Pence sought unity in the party.

“Donald Trump understands the frustrations and the aspirations of everyday Americans more than any other leader of my lifetime, since Ronald Reagan,” he told voters.

Doubt about the ticket was hard to find at the rally. Many supporters told KRDO NewsChannel 13 they stand behind the candidate.

“Mr. Pence is a person of integrity, and when he says something you can believe it, he tells it from his heart,” said supporter Lawrence Nelson.

“Mike Pence is down-to-earth, he speaks his mind, he appeals to the common citizen,” said supporter Helen Boyce.

Pro-choice and Planned Parenthood supporters stood outside the hotel as the motorcade arrived.

An average of polls by Real Clear Politics has Clinton ahead by eight points in the state. But with three months until the election, Republicans hope those numbers will change.

“I’m a Christian, a conservative and a Republican,” Pence said.

His visit comes as he broke with Trump Wednesday, voicing strong support and a strong endorsement of House Speaker Paul Ryan’s re-election bid in Wisconsin.