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Chris Sikich | Indianapolis Star

Kelly Wilkinson, kelly.wilkinson@indystar.com

Vice President Mike Pence will visit Kokomo Thursday to highlight the administration's response to the novel coronavirus pandemic while touting jobs growth at an Indiana manufacturing facility.

Pence is leading a task force guiding the administration's coronavirus response, though public perception of his role has gotten muddled since Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner was given a similar role.

As the Trump administration faces increasing scrutiny for shortages of testing, personal protective equipment and hospital equipment, Indiana's former governor will visit a General Motors plant that's switching gears from producing electronic parts to making ventilators.

Breaking through the log jam: Are Pence's ties to the state benefiting Indiana's coronavirus response?

Pence has been on the road the past couple weeks. While visiting a similar factory last week in Wisconsin, he thanked workers collectively before meeting with many individually, according to local news reports.

"Because of all of your efforts, no American who has required a ventilator has been denied a ventilator," he said. "Thank you for what you've done here."

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He'll be joined Thursday by Gov. Eric Holcomb, who said Wednesday he was very proud of the work being done by the GM plant.

Political opponents, though, are accusing the vice president of grandstanding on Trump's behalf.

"Vice President Mike Pence is no stranger to damage control on behalf of Donald Trump," Sean Higgins, a spokesman for presumptive Democratic nominee for president Joe Biden, told IndyStar, "and this photo op won't change the fact that Hoosiers and the American people are paying the price for the Trump administration's failure to adequately prepare and forcefully respond to the coronavirus pandemic."

Production of ventilators began at the GM facility in Kokomo April 6.

Through an announced partnership with Ivy Tech — a community college that Pence's former lieutenant governor Sue Ellspermann now leads — the GM facility will fill 1,000 temporary jobs to help produce 30,000 ventilators through August.

"He's coming here as the face of the administration's efforts on the pandemic," said Robert Dion, political professor at the University of Evansville, "focusing on tangible changes being made here in Indiana to help manage that."

Evan Vucci/Associated Press

The GM facility has been retrofitted to build Ventec ventilators — machines that help hospital patients in critical condition breathe, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

As part of its change in production, the GM plant has sourced hundreds of parts and assembly units from suppliers while designing a new manufacturing process, according to the Department of Workforce Development. The facility also has implemented protocols to keep workers safe, according to the the DWD.

“We are really pleased with the support we have received from the Kokomo community,” Phil Kienle, GM Vice President of North American Manufacturing and Labor Relations, said in a prepared statement. “The speed of this project from concept to production has been incredible and having a strong team at the plant is critical to maintain our momentum to help save lives.”

Indiana is Pence's fifth trip since pandemic

This is Pence's fifth public appearance outside Washington since the World Health Organization declared the spread of COVID-19 a pandemic.

He visited a Walmart distribution center April 1 in Virginia, gave remarks April 14 at the Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado Springs, Colorado, toured a GE facility manufacturing ventilators April 22 in Madison, Wisconsin., and visited the Mayo Clinic Tuesday in Minnesota.

He created a stir Tuesday after he was reportedly the only person in the Mayo Clinic not to don a face mask, a decision he explained by citing CDC guidelines that masks are intended for people with the virus. He also said he wanted to look folks in the eye.

"That was a misstep or a mistake not to put a mask on," Dion said. "I hope it wasn't a calculated tactic to play to the crowd that is sick of the quarantine and wants to stick a finger in the eye of authority. He's a longtime public servant and his job right now is to inspire confidence and to set an example. There is no doubt he is working really hard on this, it's a challenge that would overwhelm almost anybody."

Pence's first trip here in months

It's Pence's first trip to Indiana since Dec. 13, when he attended a round table on behalf of Gov. Eric Holcomb's reelection campaign.

It's been noted that his trip to the ventilator facility in Wisconsin had the potential added benefit of being in a swing state ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

But pundits told IndyStar it's unlikely Pence was thinking too much about the election when arranging the visit here. Indiana remains Trump country, for one. For another, Pence comes here frequently and seems unlikely to move the needle much.

He's more likely thinking about bolstering the image of the administration's response for a national audience. And the chance to do so in his home state is a bonus.

Andy Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics, said Pence can expect a friendly audience when he returns to Indiana. And, he said most Americans know we need more ventilators and personal protective equipment.

"I'm a little bit surprised that elected officials have not been trying to elevate more of the businesses that have pivoted," Downs said, "like the distillery, Hotel Tango Whisky, that is making hand sanitizer."

Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Democrats take aim at Pence

Biden's campaign clearly has noticed the vice president is publicizing the administration's response to the pandemic, releasing a statement criticizing Pence's trip to Wisconsin hours before Pence landed there.

When contacted by IndyStar, the campaign indicated Pence should be doing more to help Americans.

"Instead of attempting a premature and undeserved victory lap," Higgins said, "the Trump administration should be supporting governors with the testing supplies it need to begin opening our economy and getting Hoosiers back to work."

Here in Indiana, Dr. Woody Myers, the Democratic candidate for governor, said he had no problem with Pence's decision to visit and promote the Kokomo facility. As part of his platform, Myers wants to built on Indiana's exportation of medical and health care supplies.

Myers thinks Pence should face some tough questions, though.

"I know he wants to highlight that," Myers said, "but he's in a difficult spot. How is he going to explain some of the conversations his boss has had with the nation? I would not want to be in that spot."