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Republicans Kick It Old School With Door-Knocking Campaign

John Pence talks to supporters
John Pence talks to supporters

Door knocking is a tried-and-true outreach method that’s been complicated by the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic has changed the way campaigns are reaching out to voters. For Democrats, that means holding more events virtually. On the Republican side, President Donald Trump has even held fewer rallies. Yet in the battleground state of Florida, Republicans are still using a tried and true way to reach their constituents: they’re going door to door.

The campaign has dispatched family members to act as messengers. Recently, we caught up to Vice President Mike Pence’s nephew Jon Pence somewhere between Jacksonville and Tallahassee, as he traversed I-10.

“We, in the state of Florida last week, made over 730,000 phone calls. We knocked on over 430,000 doors. People are working hard. And The only way you can win a race is by showing up,” he said.

The goal—reach as many voters as possible between now and Election Day.

“Every day is … making the case for Donald Trump. What does four more years mean? It means jobs and eradicating the Coronavirus. And it means 10 million jobs in 10 months, because we know before the pandemic arrived, the economy was booming.”

Meanwhile, Democrats are doing more events online and via cell phone. By now, most voters likely know who they’re casting ballots for. But there’s still a slim number of undecideds and both sides are trying to make their final pitch.

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Lynn Hatter is a Florida A&M University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Lynn has served as reporter/producer for WFSU since 2007 with education and health care issues as her key coverage areas. She is an award-winning member of the Capital Press Corps and has participated in the NPR Kaiser Health News Reporting Partnership and NPR Education Initiative. When she’s not working, Lynn spends her time watching sci-fi and action movies, writing her own books, going on long walks through the woods, traveling and exploring antique stores. Follow Lynn Hatter on Twitter: @HatterLynn.
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