Pence is putting all this on the line in his last attempt to save his ticket a month before election day.
The vice president has presented a positive face about representing the GOP ticket in a moment of crushing uncertainty, despite pressure from White House allies and allies to let down the hunt in Washington, until Trump clarifies. President Walter Reed remains a patient at the National Military Medical Center, where he has been taking various treatments and medications to combat a potentially fatal disease.
Despite the pressure to put pressure, Pence’s allies insist he was created for the moment given his momentary nature, grip on the virus, and his unwavering allegiance to Trump. But others close to Pence lamented his decision to fly across the country while the Commander-in-Chief is hospitalized and administration officials are given limited updates about his condition, noting that the protocol to protect the vice president in the wake of the campaign is similar to that of Trump’s virus. Failed to save from contagion.
“You can’t say now that there’s no way to catch him, because we told him about the president and he’s still there,” a White House official said.
Former President George W. Bush, close to the Trump White House. Bush aide Scott Jennings indicated that Pence should stay in the city and stay awake.
“The president is in the hospital with a disease known to kill people,” Jennings said. “Mike Pence’s health and safety is paramount.”
Although Pence and his wife, Karen, have repeatedly tested negatively since Trump announced his positive diagnosis early Friday morning, there were at least eight people who tested positive for Covid-19 after Trump unveiled his Supreme Court after attending a White House Rose Garden ceremony. Did. Late Justice Ruth Bader replaces Ginsberg.
Those who have been plagued by the virus and are now different women include Melania Trump, Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stepian, top Trump aide Hope Hicks, G.O.P. Sense. Christie.
Pence has been recognized by people inside and outside the White House because someone takes the virus more seriously than Trump – although some say he may not take it seriously enough. In February, the vice president took control of the White House coronavirus task force and shaped daily engagement with officials from the Trump administration and governors across the country. But he has played two parts to that role: sometimes trying to clean up the virus by trying to reduce the virus, and sometimes by drawing pink pictures and creating epidemics in the past.
Despite the constant threats of exposure, the Trump campaign is keen to deploy Pence, as it is a quickly assembled effort to keep the presidential election afloat for the next 30 days by dispatching members of the vice president, calling it “Operation Mega.” Is the first family and key collaborator for virtual and individual events across the country.
Part of that effort is to get Pence back on campaign earnings for a “very aggressive schedule” as soon as possible, Jason Miller, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.
Trump spoke with campaign aides Stephen, Miller and Corey Lewandowski this weekend, the three men said. The campaign will hold its first virtual rally on Monday night following Trump’s diagnosis.
Pence “Now there is a face. He needs to start today, ”said a former Trump campaign official, echoing the sentiment shared by current campaign aides. Foundation.
“We don’t operate out of fear,” said Steve Cortes, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign. “President [has] Recovered with terrible progress so far. The Vice President is healthy and working non-stop. The continuity of the command is well established. We will not control the country or the administration or our campaign and we will not hide it. ”
Pence is expected to postpone a meeting with Utah Republicans when he arrives in Salt Lake City on Monday, according to two people familiar with his plans, one of whom said the vice president will spend most of Monday and Tuesday landing with a close circle of advisers to prepare for his discussion.
Wednesday is now effectively the next presidential debate, a former Trump campaign official said.
The Trump campaign also announced Saturday that Pence will host a “mega event” at a strategic gear manufacturer in Peoria, Arizona, on Thursday, the second day of the debate. Asked if participants in Thursday’s event would be required to wear protective face masks, Trump campaign communicator Tim Murtuf said only that the masks would be “strongly encouraged” and that temperature checks would be conducted before entry – indicating that the Trump campaign was not planned. . To make further changes to its security protocol.
“The VP is tested every day and it is very important for him to come on the trail. We will campaign digitally, we will campaign face to face and we will keep the protocol we have always followed, ”said another Trump campaign official.
A senior administration official said Pence could handle the president’s duties at any time or place when needed, but he should only return in the wake of the campaign if he does not organize large events that lack masks or social distance.
“The vice president must take on his responsibility as successor to the president as head of the task force with a responsibility to set an example for our public health response,” the man said.
In a 20-minute internal conference call on Saturday, an enthusiastic Pence urged Trump campaign workers and volunteers across the country to move forward during the last week before the November election.
Despite being closer to the Oval Office fees than ever before, Pence maintained his typical respect for Trump during the call – stopping inbound traveling from China and praising the president for working quickly to fight the novel coronavirus and handing him the Covid-19. Task Force.
“You know, I’ve said that I’ve traveled around the country many times in recent days, and President Donald Trump has never stopped fighting for us. “Now it’s our turn to fight for it,” Pence said, according to an audio recording obtained by Politico.
He said at another stage of the call that Trump wants employees to play their part in defeating the virus.
“Wash your hands regularly, use hand sanitizer, wear a mask when you can’t socialize.”
