In an interview with Donald Trump's running mate Gov. Mike Pence, ABC's Martha Raddatz insists that the issue of Donald Trump as a "birther" is not over.



"I say this very sincerely, verily-- very respectfully to you. This is not what the American people are talking about. Donald Trump put this issue to an end yesterday in Washington D.C.," Pence said. "It's over."



"It is not over," she replied.





MARTHA RADDATZ: On Friday, for the very first time, Mr. Trump said that Barack Obama was born in the U.S.. Why did it take him so long?



MIKE PENCE: Well, let me say that-- the momentum in this campaign is really overwhelming. And I think it's because Donald Trump's been focusing on issues the American people really care about. He brought that issue to an end-- this week. But-- but I have to be honest with you.



Other than many in the national media, and certainly in Hillary Clinton's campaign, as I campaign all across this country with Donald Trump and for Donald Trump, the American people aren't focused on the debates of the past. They're focused on their future. They're focused on the challenges that we're facing at home and abroad. And he's offering real solutions and the kind of strong leadership that the American people know will make America great again.



MARTHA RADDATZ: Governor Pence, I know you say you want to talk about issues. But Mr. Trump could have put this issue to bed a long time ago. Just last Wednesday he was asked by The Washington Post a very simple question, "Do you believe the president was born in the United States?" He said he wouldn't answer it then. Then he had a major announcement he talked about on Friday. He kept this issue going. Why did it take him so long to say the president was born in the United States, which is a fact?



MIKE PENCE: Well-- Martha, it is a fact. And-- Donald Trump and I have-- both acknowledged that without hesitation. But-- I-- I have to say-- really to tell you that-- I-- I-- I understand why many in the national media and Hillary Clinton--



MARTHA RADDATZ: But-- but Governor Pence--



MIKE PENCE: --want to distract attention from--



(OVERTALK)



MARTHA RADDATZ: --it's not just the national media. Let-- let me read you. He-- we counted since April of 2011 and that's the year that Barack Obama gave his long form birth certificate from Hawaii. We counted 67 times that Donald Trump tweeted or retweeting messaging-- messages questioning his birthplace. He has kept this going. He has been a leader in this birther movement.



MIKE PENCE: Well, and I-- I know there's news reports that-- traces Birther movement all the way back to Hillary Clinton's campaign in 2008. But--



MARTHA RADDATZ: You believe that--



(OVERTALK)



MARTHA RADDATZ: --Hillary Clinton started the Birther movement?



MIKE PENCE: I-- look. I-- look, I-- I'll let the facts speak for themselves.



MARTHA RADDATZ: Well-- no, I wanna-- (OVERTALK)



MARTHA RADDATZ: --talk about the facts.



MIKE PENCE: What I will tell you--



MARTHA RADDATZ: What's the truth of that?



MIKE PENCE: What I will tell you Martha, look, I-- as I travel across this country, I say this very sincerely, verily-- very respectfully to you. This is not what the American people are talking about. Donald Trump put this issue to an end yesterday in Washington D.C.. He respectfully said--



MARTHA RADDATZ: Why did it take him so long to put it to an end?



MIKE PENCE: It's over.



MARTHA RADDATZ: It's not over.