VP Mike Pence makes Iowa trip as days to election dwindle
Vice President Mike Pence hosted a campaign event Thursday at the Des Moines International Airport.
Sen. Joni Ernst introduced Pence to a smaller crowd than President Trump saw two weeks ago. A masked Pence then exited Air Force Two and ran to the podium to address the crowd.
Pence asked Iowans to re-elect President Donald Trump to chants of "four more years." He outlined Trump’s accomplishments, saying the president improved the American economy, cut taxes and increased military and veteran health spending.
“We cut taxes across the board for working families and small businesses. We rolled back more federal red tape than any administration in history. We fought for free and fair trade, unleashing American energy, and in three short years, businesses created more than 7 million good paying jobs, including 12,000 jobs right here in the Hawkeye State,” Pence said.
Pence announced at the event that he and President Trump became the first sitting president and vice president in history to be named honorary members of the Iowa Corn Growers Association.
Pence also attacked Joe Biden during the rally, saying the former vice president plans to raise taxes during the pandemic, saying the choice during the election is between Trump's booming economy and Biden's depression, a familiar refrain heard during rallies held by both the president and the vice president.
Iowa Democrats responded to Pence's visit preemptively. They held a virtual news conference Thursday morning, criticizing the Trump administration for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Iowa Rep. Jo Oldson was part of that conference. She answered questions about what Democrats will do to address COVID-19 if they were to win the majority in the Iowa House.
“First of all, we'll listen to the experts and we'll follow science. Let's start there. Both things that I think have been largely ignored throughout this process,”
Oldson said they have also been working on a package that would include funding for rapid testing, contact tracing, and personal protective equipment.
Another advertisement will greet supporters near the airport ahead of the campaign event.
It reads: “Warning: Just one night of unprotected Pence can cause covid.”
A similar sign was placed near the airport before President Donald Trump’s visit two weeks ago.