The Latest: Pence lauds Trump's leadership at Indiana rally

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump's rally in Indiana with Vice President Mike Pence (all times local):

7:30 p.m.

Vice President Mike Pence is praising President Donald Trump's leadership at a rally in his home state of Indiana.

Pence, the state's former governor, in introducing the president in Elkhart on Thursday. He says Trump has kept his campaign promises and is embracing his leadership role on the world stage.

Pence says the president is making progress on North Korea and bringing home three Americans who were held there. He notes that the U.S. is pulling out of the "disastrous" Iran nuclear deal and opening up the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.

The vice president is blasting Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana. He says when Trump asked him to support his tax overhaul or his plan to end the Affordable Care Act, "Joe voted no." Pence says Donnelly's Republican opponent, Mike Braun "will stand" with Trump.

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12:20 a.m.

President Donald Trump is returning to his campaign roots with big-stage events allowing him to target vulnerable Senate Democrats and mobilize his most fervent supporters on behalf of Republicans.

Trump is set to rally supporters in Elkhart, Indiana, on Thursday night, two days after state Republicans nominated former state lawmaker Mike Braun to challenge vulnerable Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly.

Trump's political advisers view the event as a way to project party unity following a bruising primary between Braun and two Indiana Republican congressmen. Home-state Vice President Mike Pence will also attend the rally.

Trump has told advisers he is eager to ramp up his campaign travel on behalf of Republicans.