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Pence's Team Taking Extra Precautions To Keep Him — And Themselves — Safe

By Franco Ordoñez

Published October 6, 2020 at 3:43 PM EDT

Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, walk toward Air Force Two on Monday en route to Utah for debate prep. [Jacquelyn Martin / AP] — Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, walk toward Air Force Two on Monday en route to Utah for debate prep.

On his way to Utah in advance of the vice presidential debate, Mike Pence said was he was looking to get back on the campaign trail.

Pence was speaking at Joint Base Andrews just minutes after the president announced he would be leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

"When the president told me he was headed back to the White House, he told me to head to Utah, and we're looking very much forward to the vice presidential debate," Pence said just before boarding Air Force Two, without taking questions from reporters.

His team members are working hard to make sure he, and they, remain safe during the trip.

Pence will debate Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday in Salt Lake City.

The Trump campaign said Pence will do more of the campaigning as Trump recovers from the coronavirus.

Pence's chief of staff, Marc Short, said the extra work doesn't change much.

"He's honored to pick up some additional travel, but I'm not sure that he sees the role differently," Short said. "The president is healthy and making decisions."

Short said the vice president has been busy over the last four days. Pence has joined some campaign calls, led a coronavirus task force meeting and participated in a national security call.

"I think out of abundance of caution, he's been self-isolating at his residence so that we can make sure that this week goes on," he said.

Short said the team is takings steps to ensure Pence remains in a protected environment throughout his travels. He added that staff is also taking other precautions to avoid further spread of the virus.

"We began encouraging staff to not come into the building unless it was essential late Thursday night after we got the president's diagnosis," Short said.