Vice President Mike Pence campaigns in Iowa as recovery continues from derecho

DES MOINES, Iowa — Vice President Mike Pence campaigned in Des Moines on Thursday as the state reels from the devastating destruction delivered by the derecho storm earlier this week. He pledged support from the White House as the state recovers, though he didn’t offer specifics.

Pence spoke to a crowd at his “Farmers and Ranchers for Trump” event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on what would have been the first day of the fair, which was canceled because of the pandemic.

It had the typical makings of a Pence event, during which he delivered a long list of “promises made, promises kept:” He hailed the pre-pandemic economy, lauded the USMCA and boasted about the appointment of conservative judges to the federal judiciary.

But the pre-planned visit unfolded against a backdrop of Iowa in tatters after a derecho, a severe storm with winds of up to 100 miles per hours, tore through the state and leveled destruction that makes it one of the state’s worst natural disasters. Thousands of Iowans are still without power and local utilities officials in Cedar Rapids said it could be another week before it’s fully restored.

“I was taken aback to hear the magnitude of this storm and its impact,” Pence said at the beginning of his remarks. “I was just talking with families who literally have seen their entire profit wiped out.”

The vice president met with farmers whose crops were impacted before his event. Gov. Kim Reynolds estimates at least 10 million acres of cropland was damaged as the derecho ravaged the state.

“I want Iowans to know we are with you,” Pence said. “We are going to stay with you and we will work with your governor and your senators to make sure that we bring Iowa all the way back.”

But the vice president didn't personally tour any of the storm damage, which drew the ire of former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack during a phone call with reporters ahead of his appearance.

“It’s unfortunate, given the fact that we have a phenomenal storm that has destroyed nearly 10 million acres of Iowa cropland, that Vice President Pence would spend his time on a campaign event instead of touring damaged areas and connecting with Iowa farmers who are already suffering” Vilsack said.

“Vice Presidents can easily adjust their schedule,” he added later.

Pence lodges attacks against newly formed Democratic ticket

President Donald Trump carried Iowa by nine points in 2016, winning some counties that voted for President Obama twice then flipped.

But the 2020 race at this point is much closer. Polls show a tight match-up between Biden and Trump, who has a narrow lead.

Pence on Thursday criticized Biden and his newly named running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, whom Biden on Tuesday tapped to be his vice president should he capture the White House in November.

“Make no mistake: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would set our nation on a path to socialism and decline and we’re not going to let it happen,” he said to cheers.

Pence later appeared at campaign event in Urbandale focused on law enforcement and spoke at an Iowa GOP party fundraiser Thursday evening.