It came as the two candidates were in a tense debate over the issue of abortion and discussing how their personal faith affected their public policy.
Pence was first to quote the Bible, paraphrasing Jeremiah 1:5, which reads “before you were formed in the womb, I knew you” as defense of his pro-life position.
WATCH: VP Candidates Discuss Faith, Abortion
Kaine came back by using Trump’s gaffe in which, under considerable grilling from MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, finally said women should be punished for having abortions.
“We don’t think women should be punished, as Donald Trump said they should, for the decision to have an abortion,” Kaine said.
Pence shrugged off the comment and said the Trump Pence administration would never support legislation that would punish women. Kaine doubled down and asked “Then why did Donald Trump say that?”
Pence’s explanation was less than satisfactory. “He’s not a politician like you and Hillary” was the best he could come up with. In fairness, Pence was put in a difficult spot because Trump did indeed say the comment and it is one of the most unpopular positions, including among conservative Christians.
That’s when Kaine went on the offensive, paraphrasing Matthew 15:18.
“From the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks. When Donald Trump says that women should be punished, or Mexicans are criminals, or John McCain’s not a hero, he is showing you who he is.”
Was Kaine right?
Check out the verse and commentary and decide.