Donald Trump has a message for Russia- find Hillary Clinton’s missing emails. But his running mate, Mike Pence, is sending mixed signals.In a Miami press conference Wednesday, the Republican presidential nominee said that the 30,000 missing emails from Clinton’s private email server would reveal “some beauties” and made an extraordinary plea for a foreign power to locate them.

“Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,” Trump said. “I think you’ll be rewarded mightily by our press!”Clinton’s campaign claims that Russia hacked computers belonging to the Democratic National Committee and released those emails on the eve of the party’s convention to benefit Trump’s candidacy. The emails, published by WikiLeaks last week, revealed that the DNC favored Clinton’s candidacy over rival Bernie Sanders, triggering a leadership shakeup within the DNC.

Trump dismissed the claims, saying it’s not clear who hacked those emails, but the incident is a sign that foreign countries no longer respect the U.S.“If it’s any foreign country it shows how little respect they have for the United States,” said Trump, who added that he was “not an email person myself because I believe it can be hacked.”

Moments after he took the final question, Pence condemned the possible cyber—espionage, breaking from Trump for the first time since being selected as his vice president.“If it is Russia and they are interfering in our elections, I can assure you both parties and the United States government will ensure there are serious consequences,” Pence said in a statement.

Trump, whom Democrats have accused of having cozy ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, repeatedly declined to condemn the actions of Russia or any other foreign power of trying to intervene in the a U.S. election.“No, it gives me no pause,” the celebrity businessman said. “If Russia or China or any of those country gets those emails, I’ve got to be honest with you, I’d love to see them.”

The Clinton campaign immediately denounced Trump’s call.

“This has to be the first time that a major presidential candidate has actively encouraged a foreign power to conduct espionage against his political opponent,” senior policy adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement. “That’s not hyperbole, those are just the facts. This has gone from being a matter of curiosity, and a matter of politics, to being a national security issue.”Trump also suggested that Clinton should not receive any security briefings due to the hack that would ensure “that word will get out.”

Trump has said that he has “zero investments” in Russia and insisted that his company had not received any significant investments from the country. He also has downplayed his affection for Putin and said he would treat the Russian leader “firmly,” though he said he wanted to improve relations with Russia. Some Democrats and security experts have said that Trump’s proposal to set conditions on NATO allies could risk Russian expansion in Eastern Europe.President Barack Obama, meanwhile, said “anything’s possible” when asked during an interview whether the Russians could be working to sway the election toward Trump.

“Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin,” Obama said during the sit—down with NBC News that aired Tuesday. “And I think that Trump’s gotten pretty favorable coverage back in Russia.”

His own legacy on the line, President Barack Obama implored Americans to elect Hillary Clinton to the White House, casting her as a candidate who believes in the optimism that fuels the nation’s democracy and warning against the “deeply pessimistic vision” of Republican Donald Trump.“America is already great. America is already strong,” he declared to cheering delegates Wednesday night at the Democratic convention. “And I promise you, our strength, our greatness, does not depend on Donald Trump.”

For Democrats, the night was steeped in symbolism, the passing of the baton from a barrier-breaking president to a candidate trying to make history herself.Mr. Obama urged Americans to summon the hopefulness of his first White House campaign eight years ago, before recession deepened and new terror threats shook voters’ sense of security. He robustly vouched for Ms. Clinton’s readiness to finish the job he started, saying “no matter how daunting the odds, no matter how much people try to knock her down, she never, ever quits.”

Earlier Wednesday, Ms. Clinton’s running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, introduced himself to the nation as a formidable foil to Mr. Trump in his own right. With folksy charm, he ridiculed Mr. Trump’s list of promises and imitated one of the GOP candidate’s favourite phrases.

“Believe me!” he said mockingly, as the audience boomed back, “No!”

Mr. Obama’s vigorous support for Clinton is driven in part by deep concern that Republican Trump might win in November and unravel his two terms in office. He warned repeatedly Wednesday that the billionaire businessman is unprepared for the challenges that would await him in the Oval Office.Mr. Trump fuelled more controversy Wednesday when he encouraged Russia to meddle in the presidential campaign. On the heels of reports that Russia may have hacked Democratic Party emails, Mr. Trump said, “Russia, if you’re listening,” it would be desirable to see Moscow find and publish the thousands of emails Ms. Clinton says she deleted during her years as secretary of state.

Wednesday night’s Democratic line-up was aimed at emphasizing Ms. Clinton’s own national security credentials. It was a significant shift in tone after two nights spent reintroducing Ms. Clinton to voters as a champion for children and families, and relishing in her historic nomination as the first woman to lead a major political party into the general election.

The convention’s third night was also a time for Democrats to celebrate Obama’s legacy. Vice President Joe Biden, who decided against running for president this year after the death of his son, called it a “bittersweet moment.”A son of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Mr. Biden appealed directly to the working class white voters who have been drawn to Mr. Trump’s populism, warning them against falling for false promises and exploitation of Americans’ anxieties.

“This guy doesn’t have a clue about the middle class,” he declared.

Mr. Kaine also picked up the traditional attacking role of the presidential ticket’s No. 2. He tore into Mr. Trump, mocking his pledges to build a wall along the Mexican border, asking why he has not released his tax returns and slamming his business record, including the now-defunct Trump University.“Folks, you cannot believe one word that comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth,” Mr. Kaine said. “Our nation is too great to put it in the hands of slick-talking, empty-promising, self-promoting, one-man wrecking crew.”

Liberals, particularly those who supported Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, have grumbled about Kaine being on the ticket, particularly because of his support for “fast track” approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact. Several delegates held up anti-TPP signs as he spoke.

In a move aimed at broadening Ms. Clinton’s appeal, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg an independent who considered launching a third party bid for president endorsed the Democratic nominee. A billionaire businessman himself, Bloomberg took aim at Mr. Trump’s bankruptcies, reliance on foreign factories and other economic experience- “The richest thing about Donald Trump is his hypocrisy.”President Bill Clinton, filling the role of devoted political spouse, joined the crowd packed to the arena rafters in cheering the attacks on Mr. Trump.

The core of Ms. Clinton’s strategy is putting back together Mr. Obama’s winning White House coalition. In both his campaigns, Mr. Obama carried more than 90 per cent of black voters, the overwhelming majority of Hispanics, and more than half of young people and women.That coalition was vividly on display in the first two nights of the convention in Philadelphia. Women lawmakers were prominently featured, along with young activists, immigrants, and mothers whose black children were victims of gun violence or killed during encounters with law enforcement.

Gun violence continued as a theme Wednesday night as families of mass shooting victims took the stage. Delegates rose in an emotional standing ovation for the mother of one of the victims in last month’s Orlando nightclub shooting, who asked why “commonsense” gun policies weren’t in place when her son died.“I never want you to ask that question about your child,” Christine Leinonen said.Ms. Clinton’s convention has been awash in history, with energized delegates celebrating her formal nomination as the first woman to ever lead a major political party in the general election. Some supporters of Mr. Sanders, her primary opponent, continued to voice their displeasure.

But Mr. Sanders, meeting with New England delegates, said, “As of yesterday, I guess, officially our campaign ended.”