/usr/web/www.marshallindependent.com/wp-content/themes/coreV2/single.php
×

John Pence says ‘we can see the energy out there’

Marshall visit part of push to get out the vote

Photo by Deb Gau John Pence, senior Trump campaign advisor and nephew of Vice President Mike Pence, met area Republican supporters in Marshall. Pence gave caps signed by the president to local volunteers Lee Carlson (pictured) and Anita Runck.

MARSHALL — As Minnesota starts its early voting period, campaign volunteers working to get President Donald Trump re-elected are talking about stepping up their efforts. On Wednesday, they had some high-profile guests in town to encourage them.

“We can win Minnesota. We can see the energy out there,” John Pence said.

Pence, a senior Trump campaign supervisor and nephew of Vice President Mike Pence, made a stop in Marshall Wednesday afternoon as part of an early voting push. In addition to Marshall, Pence has visited cities including Moorhead, Fergus Falls, Willmar, Hutchinson and Pipestone.

Pence spoke to a group of about 40 area residents at the Trump Victory Office in Marshall. The president was “fighting every day for our freedoms,” Pence said. “Now it’s time we fight for him.”

Pence said Republicans were looking to “turn Minnesota red,” instead of assuming the state would continue to vote Democrat. Pence said when he worked on the campaign in 2016, there were minimal resources to train volunteers on the ground in Minnesota. However, the 2016 campaign found there was a lot of enthusiasm for Trump in the state.

“Now, we’re on the offense,” Pence said. “The president can win in Minnesota, which is why we are here.”

Past Republican events in Marshall have also focused on the race in U.S. Congressional District 7, where Rep. Collin Peterson is running for re-election. Republican candidate Michelle Fischbach has made appearances in Marshall as she seeks to unseat Peterson.

Pence said this year Republicans are investing in campaigning in Minnesota, and having a presence on the ground would be a key part of getting out the vote. That was an important reason for having a national campaign office in southwest Minnesota, he said.

“Going into every corner of the state, and going into every community, doesn’t mean just swinging by,” Pence said. In addition to having a presence in the community, the office also needed to be a place where people could gather and connect, he said.

Pence said campaign response has been strong in Minnesota this year. As of last week, Trump campaign volunteers had knocked on 50,000 doors and made over 130,000 phone calls, he said. Nationwide the campaign has made contact with 110 million voters, he said.

While speaking to area campaign volunteers, Pence said Trump would stand up for freedom of speech and religion, for jobs, and for free, fair and reciprocal trade.

“There’s only one builder on the ballot,” Pence told area campaign volunteers. “We need a builder.” Other priorities for the president include eradicating COVID-19 and filling the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

“We’re on the way to a great American comeback,” Pence told volunteers.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today