I'm going nowhere: Mike Pence shoots down rumors he will quit the ticket - and says he's 'proud to stand shoulder to shoulder' with Trump

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Mike Pence says rumors that he's considering dumping Donald Trump are 'absolutely false.'

'I couldn't have been more proud of the way that he focused last night on the choice the American people face, and really and truly, I'm proud of the job that he did and proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with him,' the Republican vice presidential candidate said Monday on Fox and Friends. 

Pence, an ardent Christian, was said to be fuming over a leaked tape of Trump bragging about grabbing women by their genitals - conduct that Republicans and Democrats have decried as sexual assault.

The Indiana governor said Saturday he was 'offended' by Trump's words and he could neither 'condone' nor 'defend them.'

Mike Pence says rumors that he's considering dumping Donald Trump are 'absolutely false'

'I'm proud of the job that he did and proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with him,' the Republican vice presidential candidate said Monday on Fox and Friends

Sunday night Pence endorsed Trump's debate performance in a tweet, making it clear he would stay on the ticket

Trump apologized late Friday night in a statement and reiterated his contrition at Sunday evening's presidential debate. Pence said Monday it was apparent that Trump was 'deeply sorry' for what he said and stated that he was 'proud' of his running mate's debate performance. 

The earnest evangelical told the hosts of Fox and Friends that he encouraged his running mate 'to express what I believe is his sincere personal remorse' at the match.

'And he did that Friday night, but I wanted to give him time to show his heart on Sunday night,' Pence said, 'And I thought he did that, expressing the fact that he was embarrassed, not proud of it.'

Defending Trump, Pence said, 'That kind of vulnerability and transparency, I think is very moving, to millions of Americans.'

'And I know for a fact that Donald Trump is deeply sorry. He's expressed his apology. But what I think people saw last night as someone who said look, I'm not a perfect person, I've made mistakes, not proud of these things, I've expressed an apology.'

Pence similarly said in an MSNBC interview, 'I believe in second chances. And I think Donald Trump in expressing genuine contrition and remorse... and saying that he was truly embarrassed about all of it on national television last night merits grace.' 

The vice presidential nominee, Mike Pence, has long described himself as a 'Christian, a conservative and a Republican in that order.' He rebuked Trump in a Saturday statement after his lewd comments were revealed, and said, 'I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them'

Speculation was swirling over the weekend about Pence's plans and the possibility that he could drop out of the race after his Saturday statement.

A top choice to lead the GOP ticket in 2020, Pence was said to be mulling over his prospects at the urging of other Republicans.

Party leaders and rank and file lawmakers were lining up behind him to replace Trump as the presidential nominee. 

The Indy Star cited sources alleging he had was adopting a 'wait and see approach' ahead of the showdown. 

Sunday night he endorsed Trump's performance in a tweet that said, 'Congrats to my running mate @realDonaldTrump on a big debate win! Proud to stand with you as we #MAGA.'  

Trump apologized late Friday night in a statement and reiterated his contrition at Sunday evening's presidential debate. Pence said Monday it was apparent that Trump was 'deeply sorry'

Prior to the debate, Former Jeb Bush supporter Vin Weber told CNN he would 'absolutely' call for Pence to leave the ticket as a way to put 'immeasurable pressure' on Trump to leave the race.

'Pence is the anchor that keeps Trump in the race,' so without him it would be over for the candidate, Weber said.

A source told the Washington Post 'Right now, Donald isn't going to go and doesn't want to go. But we've been texting about it.'

Trump was hung out to dry by dozens of key endorsers and publicly shamed by others who described as 'sickening' his boasts that he could grab women 'by the p****' because he was a star. 

On Sunday, the Trump campaign worked to dismiss speculation he and Pence were at odds over the scandal.

Kellyanne Conway, Trump's campaign manager, shared a photograph from on board his jet which purported to show him on the phone with the Indiana governor.

'Donald Trump on phone with Mike Pence on plane en route to St Louis debate' she wrote. 

The Indiana governor was said to be 'beside himself' over Trump's comments.  

Pence said in a statement Saturday: 'I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them. I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologized to the American people. 

'As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the eleven-year-old video released yesterday.

'We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night,' the Indiana governor said. 

Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Mike Crapo of Idaho have called on Trump to quit the campaign so Pence can lead the ticket. Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire says she'll write in Pence's name on the ballot — not Trump's.

Pence was supposed to replace Trump at a Wisconsin event with Paul Ryan after the speaker said he was 'sickened' by Trump's remarks, but later canceled.

'I'm sure he's horrified,' said Mike Murphy, an Indiana public relations strategist who's known Pence for more than two decades.

'We impeached Bill Clinton and we cannot impeach Trump off the ballot. But I wish there was a mechanism to do so.'

 The Indiana governor was said to be 'beside himself' over Trump's comments

In the recording released by the Washington Post on Friday, Trump could be hear saying: 'And when you're a star they let you do it. Can do anything. Whatever you want. Grab them by the p**y'

The Washington Post and NBC broke the story of Trump's words about women as Pence advocated for Trump him in Ohio.

'With Donald Trump as president, we'll have a president of the United States who respects all the American people,' Pence said as news of Trump's comments was breaking.

Pence went on to defend, as he had previously, Trump's outspoken nature as a refusal to 'tiptoe around those thousands of rules of political correctness'.

The VP nominee ignored questions about Trump and he was quickly whisked out of reach of the news media.