Pence's Strategic Travel Amid Pandemic Highlights Administration's Response, Biden Campaign Sees 'Damage Control Tour'

Strategic Insights -

As President Donald Trump remains at the White House, Vice President Mike Pence has been dispatched across the country to highlight the administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic. Pence's trips have taken him to several 2020 battleground states, including Florida, Wisconsin, Colorado, Minnesota, and Virginia. His official business has been focused on combating the pandemic, with a few exceptions, and his tours have included visits to governors, government facilities, and notable businesses. The Biden campaign has framed Pence's travel as a "damage control tour," while a Trump campaign official sees it as an opportunity to showcase the administration's efforts.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pence has made 6 trips across the country since his February 26 appointment to lead the coronavirus task force, with a focus on highlighting the administration's response to the pandemic.
  • His travels have included visits to governors, government facilities, and notable businesses, such as the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and a Walmart distribution center in Virginia.
  • Pence has emphasized the production of ventilators and other medical advancements, while the Biden campaign has criticized the administration for its response to the pandemic and Pence for not wearing a mask during a visit to the Mayo Clinic.
  • A Trump campaign official noted that while Pence's travel is not primarily motivated by campaign politics, some of the states he has visited are "very important to 2020" and will help him with voters.
  • Polling indicates that Trump could be losing his competitive edge in some battleground states, including Florida and Wisconsin, where Biden has a lead according to recent polls.

Statistics:

  • 26.5 million Americans have filed unemployment claims through April 18 (Source: CNN).
  • Pence has made 6 trips across the country since his February 26 appointment to lead the coronavirus task force.
  • The longer term probability polling average had the presidential candidate race tied in Wisconsin before the latest polls showed Biden ahead by 3 points (Source: Marquette University Law School).
  • Biden led Trump by 6 points in a University of North Florida poll and 4 points in a Quinnipiac University poll in Florida (Sources: University of North Florida, Quinnipiac University).

Sources:

  • CNN (original article)
  • University of North Florida (poll results)
  • Quinnipiac University (poll results)
  • Marquette University Law School (poll results)
  • CNN (coronavirus task force personnel)
  • Trump campaign official (quoted)
  • Biden campaign official (quoted)