What we know about Biden/Harris and Pence visits to Arizona on Thursday

PHOENIX – One day after the vice presidential debate and the start of early voting in Arizona, three-quarters of the presidential tickets are descending on the Grand Canyon State.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and running mate Sen. Kamala Harris are making their first campaign trip to Arizona on Thursday afternoon. They will be in the Phoenix area around the same time Vice President Mike Pence returns to Arizona for the fourth time this year.

Pence, President Donald Trump and other GOP campaign surrogates have practically set up camp in Arizona, with a string of recent visits to a state that’s gone from reliably Republican to battleground status this year.

Trump had planned to appear in Arizona on Monday, but that was canceled along with all his other scheduled campaign stops after he tested positive for COVID-19 last week.

Here’s what we know about Thursday’s visits:

Pence in Phoenix, Peoria

First up for the vice president, along with first lady Karen Pence, is a meet-and-greet with the parents of Kayla Mueller, the Arizona humanitarian aid worker who was killed by terrorists in Syria in 2015.

The gathering will take place after Air Force Two arrives from Nevada at the Goldwater Air National Guard Base near Sky Harbor International Airport around 1:30 p.m.

Carl and Marsha Mueller of Prescott, who were Pence’s guests at Wednesday night’s vice presidential debate, will also participate when Gov. Doug Ducey unveils a painting honoring Kayla at the base at 2 p.m.

Pence, meanwhile, will head to Peoria, where he is scheduled to appear at a 2:30 p.m. campaign event at TYR Tactical. Doors open at noon and close at 2 p.m.

West Valley U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko is scheduled to speak before Pence.

Biden/Harris in Phoenix, Tempe

The Democratic running mates aren’t holding a public campaign event in Arizona but will meet with tribal leaders and go on a bus tour to the East Valley.

Their plans include a 2 p.m. meeting with Native American leaders in Phoenix.

Biden and Harris will then speak at a location that hasn’t been disclosed before taking a bus tour to visit with business leaders and voters in Phoenix and Tempe.

No other details about the Democrats’ visit were made available.

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