They are both believers and yet the two Vice Presidential nominees are worlds apart when it comes to abortion – at least in public - and that difference was laid bare in last night's hold-no-bars televised debate between the two men.

Pence, Trump's VP nominee and an evangelical Catholic, took aim at Kaine's ease at being part of the Democratic Party and running alongside an unabashed abortion supporter like Hillary Clinton, despite being a devout Catholic who admits that in private he is pro-life.

"For me ... the sanctity of life proceeds out of a belief in that ancient principle of God," Pence said. "What I cannot understand is Hillary Clinton—how she can support a process like partial-birth abortion."  He added: "I cannot conscience a party that supports that."

Partial birth abortion is an abortion carried out in the late stages of pregnancy and has been outlawed in the US since 2003.  However, Clinton, a Methodist, has previously expressed support for a late pregnancy regulation "that would have exceptions for the life and health of the mother". 

Democratic support for abortion is a huge turn off from the party for America's conservative voters, who include many Christians, so it's little surprise that Pence pressed the issue on the night.

Pence said it was unacceptable that a child that is "almost-born into the world could still have their life taken from them". "For me, my faith informs my life [and] it begins with cherishing the dignity, the worth, the value of every human life," he said.

Despite having strong views on the subject, Pence managed to keep the tone respectful, perhaps part of a conscious effort on his part to repair some of the damage caused by Donald Trump's comments on the issue.

Pence denied Trump had said women should be "punished" for having abortions, stating instead that the two "would never support legislation that would punish women who made the heartbreaking choice".

Kaine defended his political position on abortion, arguing that it was not in conflict with his personal faith beliefs.

While he and Clinton are of the opinion that believers "should live fully and with enthusiasm the commands of your faith", this does not mean they should dictate that others live by their values, he suggested.

"[I]t is not the role of the public servant to mandate that for everybody else," he said.

Kaine reiterated the Democratic support for the constitutional right of women to "consult their own conscience, their own supportive partner, their own minister, but then make their own decision about pregnancy."

"Why doesn't Donald Trump trust women to make this choice for themselves?" Kaine questioned.