RALEIGH, N.C. — In the feverishly manicured spectacle that is electoral politics, there are few distractions quite as imposing to candidates as a small child. Just this week, Donald J. Trump earned a wave of negative headlines after he confronted a crying baby at a rally in Virginia.

Mike Pence learned that lesson the hard — and perhaps revealing — way at a rally here on Thursday morning when he solicited a question from an 11-year-old boy, Matthew Schricker.

“I’ve been watching the news lately, and I’ve been noticing that you’ve been kind of softening up on Mr. Trump’s policies and words,” Matthew said skeptically. “Is this going to be your role in the administration?”

Mr. Pence stood stone-faced for a moment before offering an uneasy chuckle.

“What did you say I’ve been doing?” Mr. Pence asked over laughter from the crowd.