Here and Now 2020

Pence Visits Wisconsin to Tout Economy and Jobs

The vice president visits two days after the president held a rally in Oshkosh, and the same weeks Democrats hold their national nominating convention.

By Will Kenneally

August 19, 2020 • Southeast Region

FacebookRedditGoogle ClassroomEmail
Mike Pence

Vice President of the United States Mike Pence addresses officers and agents as he visits U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations at Dundalk Marine Terminal within the Port of Baltimore in Baltimore, Md., February 8, 2019. (Courtesy: Glenn Fawcett / U.S. Customs and Border Protection)


Vice President Mike Pence held a campaign rally in Darien Wednesday, touting the last three and a half years of economic success as the reason to give him and President Donald Trump four more years in office.

Mike Pence

Vice President Mike Pence speaks at a campaign rally in Darien, Wis. Aug. 19, 2020. (Courtesy: Laurel White / WPR)

“Anyway you slice it, it’s been three and a half years of action, three and a half years of results. It’s been three and a half years of promises made and promises kept,” Pence said.

The vice president’s trip to Wisconsin marked the third consecutive day of Trump campaign officials touring the Badger State. Eric Trump spoke at the Milwaukee Police Association Tuesday, and the president held a campaign rally in Oshkosh Monday.

The campaign visits also come as Democrats hold their national nominating convention largely virtually–an event that was scheduled this week for Milwaukee.

“It is great to be in the Badger State, and I sure do hope you get used to seeing us,” Pence said. “Where the other side is online, we’re going to be on the streets in the Badger State.”

The vice president spoke at metal fabricator Tankcraft, using the occasion to tout the administration’s record on creating jobs in the Midwest.

“The truth is, under Joe Biden and Barack Obama America lost 200,000 manufacturing jobs,” he said. “We didn’t need a magic wand to knock the rust off the Rust Belt, we just needed President Donald Trump–500,000 manufacturing jobs created in just three years.”

Pence said the administration has worked hard to foster economic recovery in the wake of pandemic-related business closures. He said that recovery is on the ballot in November.

“I know the people of Wisconsin and America are going to choose the path of freedom and opportunity,” he said. “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would set America on a path of socialism and decline.”

Pence spoke the day after the “Leadership Matters” night of the Democratic National Convention, which was critical of Trump’s leadership. He said the country’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the progress toward a vaccine, which he promised by the end of the year, was emblematic of Trump’s leadership.

“Only in America…Men and women, that’s what leadership looks like. That’s the leadership of President Donald Trump,” he said.

“It’s on, so get ready. Buckle up,” Pence said. “Seventy six days left to Election Day.”

Statement to the Communities We Serve

There is no place for racism in our society. We must work together as a community to ensure we no longer teach, or tolerate it.  Read the full statement.