Jacob Ogles
Vice President Mike Pence indefinitely postponed a rally planned Thursday in Sarasota.
The Republican Party of Sarasota announced Saturday that the stop, part of Pence’s “Faith In America” tour, was off for now.
“Stay tuned for updates on the new time for Vice President’s visit,” an email blasts reads.
The news came the same day Florida reported another 9,585 cases of coronavirus. That included 98 new cases in Sarasota County alone. The county has reported a total of 1,341 cases of COVID-19, and health officials say 96 individuals in the county have died from the disease.
Pence’s stop was a political one, a chance to rally religious conservatives in a battleground state. Sarasota served as home to President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign for most of the 2016 campaign cycle. Joe Gruters, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, represents the community in the Florida Senate.
Gruters initially suggested anyone concerned about a gathering could simply skip the trip.
“We only want people who want to come,” Gruters said.
As Trump and Pence have attempted to return to campaign rallies, the campaign has come under fire for holding mass gatherings while COVID-19 infections are on the rise.
Democrat Joe Biden’s campaign specifically called out Pence for the first stop in his “Faith In America” tour in Wisconsin.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo chimed in after the Florida GOP’s announcement.
“Even Mike Pence cannot defend Donald Trump’s failed response to the coronavirus pandemic as cases surge in Florida,” she said. “Trump and his loyalist Ron DeSantis have had their heads in the sand instead of governing during this pandemic — proving just how important it is for Floridians to vote for Joe Biden, an experienced, empathetic leader capable of guiding this nation through crisis.”
Notably, Pence also withered criticism from Florida Democrats the last time he participated in a Sarasota area fundraiser. Two days after he was named to the head the administration response to the coronavirus threat, Pence attended an event at U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan’s Longboat Key home raising resources for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
At that point, the pandemic in North America was in its infancy. Now, the United States has confirmed 2.48 million cases nationwide. That’s more than a quarter of the 9.86 million confirmed cases worldwide.
7 comments
Sonja Fitch
June 27, 2020 at 1:39 pm
One the goptrump cult acted like respectful human? Ain’t noway! Waiting to
See when looting Lenny has to cancel RNC! Looting Lenny and duffus Desantis lack of leadership is criminal. People are dying!
Paul Gault
June 28, 2020 at 9:28 am
Where do you get your info %of deaths have fallen yes more cases cause more testing but majority of positives aren’t Evan sick and will recover , watch after election is over this will disappear out of the blue and there is so many false positives
Ocean Joe
June 27, 2020 at 3:13 pm
Bible-totin’ Mike riding shotgun with Two Corinthians.
Just as good as you
June 27, 2020 at 3:35 pm
The AP is reporting that his entire bus tour of Florida is being cancelled.
An observer from afar, but to my eyes, it looks like he’s ‘losing his religion’.
‘But ya gotta have faith’ – George Michael
Paul Gault
June 28, 2020 at 9:30 am
Not loosing his religion he’s being Wise
DisplacedCTYankee
June 28, 2020 at 5:01 am
Waiting for comment from Florida Gov DeMAGA.
Booner
June 28, 2020 at 11:03 am
Mike Pence is like Dan Quayle. Slow on the uptake. Our penultimate leader.
Message to VP — Purely political re-election and fund raising to a predominantly senior audience in Sarasota or anywhere else while Florida’s Covid-19 is peaking ever higher is not a very Christian thing to do. By trying to ignore the majority of Floridians who agree with science based recommendations regarding masks and social distancing, the majority will see you lack common sense and compassion. Especially if unnecessary hospitalizations and deaths are the result.
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