Vice President Mike Pence hosts Kinston rally Sunday despite contact with aides infected with COVID-19

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Monday, October 26, 2020
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In an exclusive interview with ABC11, Pence expressed confidence in his and President Donald Trump's outreach to the Tar Heel State, which is worth a crucial 15 electoral votes.

KINSTON, N.C. (WTVD) -- With just over a week until the election, Vice President Mike Pence visited North Carolina for a planned rally one day after President Donald Trump.

Despite the muggy weather, Pence held a 'Make America Great Again' victory rally at the Kinston Jet Center on Sunday evening.

On Saturday, sources told ABC News that Marc Short, Chief of Staff to the Vice President Mike Pence tested positive for COVID-19. A statement from the vice president's office said he will maintain his schedule in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel.

Mike Pence to keep up travel despite contact with aides infected with COVID-19

The Vice President's visit is the third by the Trump/Pence campaign in as many days. Friday, the president's son Eric Trump attended an "Evangelicals for Trump" event in Raleigh. Saturday, the president himself delivered remarks in Robeson County at the fairgrounds.

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Early voting is well underway in North Carolina, and in Lenoir County, where Pence will visit, more than 42% of the county's voters have already cast their ballot.

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Pence last visited North Carolina for a rally in Selma where he touted the president's economic success and his support for law enforcement.

According to FiveThirtyEight, polls released earlier this week show former Vice President Joe Biden with a slight lead over President Trump in North Carolina.

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Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence will also make more stops in North Carolina this week.

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Karen Pence will host a 'Make America Great Again!' event on behalf of the president at Finnigan's Run Farms in New Hill at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct 26.

The following day, Mike Pence will hold a 'Make America Great Again!' victory rally at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27. After making another campaign stop in Greenville, South Carolina, Pence will then return for a third rally at the Wilmington International Airport in Wilmington at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27.

The Biden campaign released the following statement on Pence's scheduled visit Sunday:

"With one week left of early in-person voting in North Carolina, Vice President Mike Pence is making a last-ditch effort to distract from the Trump administration's utter failure to address the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic fallout. In September, the unemployment rate in North Carolina rose almost an entire percentage point, and Eastern North Carolina families and small businesses are feeling the pain. The only promise kept by the Trump-Pence administration has been their commitment to their own self-interest. After four years of dishonesty and division, voters are ready to make good on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' promise to send Vice President Pence packing."