Here & Now

Pence Rallygoers in Pewaukee Mostly Maskless

Frederica Freyberg:

That visit comes just two days after Vice President Mike Pence stopped in Waukesha County to kick off his “Faith in America” tour. Senior Political Reporter Zac Schultz was there.

Zac Schultz:

Mike Pence’s opening words were nothing new for a politician.

Mike Pence:

Well, hello, Wisconsin! [cheers and applause] You all look great. Thanks for coming out today.

Zac Schultz:

But “you look great, thanks for coming out” carries additional meaning as the Trump campaign renews in-person rallies in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the weekend Donald Trump met lackluster crowds in Tulsa, Oklahoma, so Pence had to feel good about the 200 people that represented a capacity crowd in Pewaukee.

Mike Pence:

I’m in Wisconsin today for really one reason and one reason only. And that is that Wisconsin and America need four more years of President Donald Trump!

Zac Schultz:

The threat from the coronavirus hung over the whole event. Even if most of the attendees claimed not to worry.

George Lucia:

I haven’t worn a mask at all, ever. There’s 350 million people in this country, so the odds are 350 million to one.

Zac Schultz:

Tickets to the rally required a disclosure statement saying no one would sue the campaign if they became affected. Attendees had their temperatures checked as they walked in and volunteers acted as ushers adjusting socially-distanced chairs to the size of the group. Masks were available and while some wore them on the way in, most took them off once inside.

Man:

They gave me one. I wore it for about half a minute.

Zac Schultz:

A woman who would only identify herself as Lori says she’s had her Trump-themed mask for months even though Trump himself won’t wear one.

Lori:

I’m not wearing it in here because we didn’t have to and we’re social distancing, so I’m good.

Zac Schultz:

COVID-19 has killed at least 119,000 people in the U.S. in just a few months and new cases are on the rise in many southern states. But it’s clear Pence would rather talk about something else. He spent just five minutes out of his forty minute speech talking about COVID-19 and Pence brought up the coronavirus in terms of the economy.

Mike Pence:

The economy alone was on an incredible roll. And then came the worst pandemic in 100 years.

Zac Schultz:

The Trump campaign has said the economy is the key to re-election and Pence highlighted that in his remarks.

Mike Pence:

We see cases that are stable or even declining in 40 states across the country. We have some outbreaks in the south and we’re focusing energy on those. But all 50 states are opening up again.

Zac Schultz:

Reporting from Pewaukee, I’m Zac Schultz for “Here & Now.”