Republican VP candidate Pence to campaign in Westmoreland County

Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence's appearance Tuesday in Westmoreland County is one more indication of how important Pennsylvania is in the Nov. 8 election, county Republican Committee Chairman Michael Korns said.

Donald Trump's campaign announced the Indiana governor would headline a 3 p.m. rally at Westmoreland County Community College's Founders Hall Gymnasium in Youngwood. Doors open at 1 p.m.

“I can personally tell you our people are really very excited about him coming here,” Kornssaid. “The reality of a major national campaign coming here so close to the election indicates what a key Pennsylvania is in this year's election outcome, and to come right after Donald Trump appeared here last summer in Monessen shows how important this area is.”

Anyone wanting tickets should act quickly and grab them online, Korns said. “They always send the candidates where they believe they can do the most good, so we were really happy when we got the confirmation of Mike Pence's visit,” Korns said. “I've been saying if Donald Trump wins this state … I believe he's president.”

Korns maintained another reason both parties have campaigned so much recently in the Keystone State is that they still hope to sway undecided voters.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, visited Aliquippa last week to drum up support for his wife. Vice President Joe Biden campaigned for Clinton at Chatham University in Pittsburgh a week ago. Hillary Clinton appeared at WCCC on April 25.

Trump, the GOP's presidential candidate, appeared in Johnstown on Oct. 21.

Clinton holds a 5.4 percent lead on Trump in Pennsylvania, according to the most recent polling average from RealClearPolitics.

“There is no early voting in Pennsylvania like in other states, except for absentee ballots, so I'm sure that's an important factor also important in their decisions,” Korns said. “There's still a lot of work they believe they can do here rather than in some states already voting.”

The Youngwood campaign stop is one of three scheduled for Pence on Tuesday. He will appear at a Lancaster County farm in the morning and in Eau Claire, Wis., in the evening.

Trump plans to join Pence in Wisconsin.

Paul Peirce is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-850-2860 or ppeirce@tribweb.com.