September 15, 2016 | No Comments
NEW YORK — Mike Pence on Thursday returned to Trump Tower for the first time since being announced as Donald Trump’s vice presidential nominee, encouraging a group of staffers and volunteers to “run through the tape” and huddling with top campaign staff.
“We are in the final stretch of a campaign that is going to make America great again,” Pence told a group of about 30 staffers and volunteers. “The work that you are doing here is truly supporting a movement in this country the likes of which I’ve never seen in my lifetime.”
The young staff sat in rows before eight flatscreen TVs. A poster of Trump’s face with the word “VOTE” emblazoned beneath it hung on the wall along with an American flag. Another poster on the wall said “Love Will Trump Everything.”
Pence praised the staff for their efforts, citing polls showing leads in Ohio and Florida and tightening polls nationally.
“I want you to keep your head down, I want you to finish strong, all right?” Pence said. He relayed a story of Jim Ryun, the famous American distance runner who later served in Congress. Ryun, Pence said, told him a key to success was to “always run through the tape.” He advised the staff to have the same attitude in the final weeks of the race.
“This is my first time back in the building since I was named to this position,” said Pence.
Soon Pence, with a cadre of aides, left the room to meet with Conway to meet privately. The staff got back to work. A bumper sticker on one’s laptop said: “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism,” a quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson.
One floor above, in additional campaign office space, hung a large painting. Aside Trump’s stern-looking face, a bald eagle flew with an American flag clenched in its talons. Behind it was planet earth, and the sun rising in the distance.
Pence will join Trump for an economic address in New York later Thursday, with a fundraiser scheduled for Thursday afternoon.