RIPON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Vice President Mike Pence will speak at Ripon College for a campaign event today at 11:30 a.m.
Joan Ferrell, a Fond du Lac resident, tells FOX 11 she’s excited to have Pence visiting so close to her home.
“Ripon is the home of the Republican Party, so what is more fitting than having him come here?”
Jeanne Williams is a proud Joe Biden supporter. She tells FOX 11 there’s no plans to take down her Biden yard sign while Pence is in town.
“He’s not my candidate. I’m not a supporter of his or of President Trump’s. But I believe the democratic process has to play out, so here we are.”
Congressman Glenn Grothman plans to meet with Pence.
“We’ll talk a little bit about the importance of manufacturing to the area, since Wisconsin is such a big manufacturing state. As well as talk about a little bit of suggestions for how to handle the coronavirus pandemic.”
The president of Ripon College distanced the school from the campaign event, saying in an email to the campus community that the school is not organizing the event, it’s merely renting out a room.
Ripon College released this statement on Pence’s visit:
Numerous government leaders and prominent figures across the political landscape come to Ripon College every year. We were approached by the Office of the Vice President and the College agreed to rent out a space as requested for a limited indoor event, provided that the College’s policy on social distancing and masking were followed. If former Vice President Biden, or his soon to be named running mate, make a similar request we will respond the same way.
Williams and Ferrell have different views on how Pence is handling the pandemic.
“I think he is doing a good job. This has been a very difficult time in the United States, and I think they’re all working toward the recovery for our country,” Ferrell said.
“I would want to say to him that his administration needs to begin to lead on COVID-19 and not deny the reality of the health crisis that we’re facing in this country,” Williams said.
Grothman tells FOX 11 she’ll probably have another chance before November 3rd.
“I think we’re going to see a lot more Trump officials coming through Wisconsin, because we are a swing state, over the next five months.”
When Pence is done in Ripon, he will go to Onalaska to tour Morning Star Farm and participate in a roundtable discussion on the impacts of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
The last time Pence was in Wisconsin was in June for a school choice round table in Pewaukee.
