First Lady Pool Reports of October 15, 2024

FLOTUS pool report #1 - rolling to Philadelphia

Motorcade is rolling from the Biden residence at 3:39 pm in route to Philadelphia where FLOTUS has two political events.

Pool did not lay eyes on FLOTUS.

FLOTUS pool report #2 - West Chester County event

Motorcade arrived at a teachers phone bank in West Chester County at 4:23 pm. FLOTUS came in the room at 4:27 pm.

There are three tables of six phone bank stations each.

FLOTUS noted she knew the area and got one of her master degrees near here. She said she was on her fall break from teaching and "still has 14 more midterms to grade."

"I've been traveling across the country."

"I was in Arizona, Nevada, Michigan and Wisconsin, and because, as you know, this election is going to be so close, every vote counts. And so I'm going to say thank you for what you're doing, because I know you all probably just got off work, or you had a long day. We won Pennsylvania in 2020 and we're going to win it again. We're going to get out there for Kamala and Tim and Bob Casey, who is a good friend."

After brief remarks, FLOTUS then joined the phone bankers in making calls. She was given a staffer's cell phone to make the calls. The staffer had to come unlock it so she could use it.

She opened the folder with the numbers and script.

Pool could only hear FLOTUS' part of conversation and missed parts of it as all the volunteers were making calls at the same time, making it hard to hear at times.

"Matt. Hi this is Jill Biden. How are you?"
"You're just getting home from school. You know I'm a teacher too."
"Well you know why I'm calling."
"Are you going to come and volunteer for us? You know how important this election is."
"Joe worked hard to overcome it but look where he is now."
"Thanks for volunteering for us."

"Nancy it's Jill Biden."
"I'm doing great."
"I'm on my fall break so I could come out and make some phone calls."
"So will you come out and volunteer for us."

After that call she announced to the room:
"Two for two!"

Asked how her calls were going: "I think they know I'm a teacher, and so they're just happy to talk to another educator who's volunteering as well, which is great. It's nice to hear everyone is so positive."

"Mark it's Jill Biden."
"Great how are you doing?"
"I have down here you're a retired teacher. So where did you teach?"
"Do you read Elizabeth Strout. ... I would recommend her. I love her work."
"I'll hope you'll come in and volunteer."
"Well give your book club my love."

"Mary? Hi. This is Jill Biden."
"I'm trying to get people to come volunteer and remind them to vote for Kamala, Tim and Bob Casey."
"You're a secretary at school? Well we know secretaries really keep the schools running. So thank you for all you do."
"You have a good day and someone will call you about when you can come in and volunteer."

After that call she noted "I'm getting a lot of volunteers."

She noted the next call was to someone with Henderson High and noted she knew that school.

"Hi. How are you? I'm calling from PSEA headquarters."
"Oh good so you've already voted. Have you gotten anyone else to vote?"
"Would you like to come volunteer?"
"I've actually been to your high school many many years ago. I actually dated a guy who did his student teaching there. We chaperoned a school dance."

She made five calls and then walked around to meet the volunteers.

She posed for a selfie and when one volunteer asked her how long she had been teaching, she said: "This year is 40. I still love it."

Also a volunteer asked her to FaceTime with someone and she did.

As she left she said to the group: "Thank you everybody for all you're doing."

At 5:03 pm the motorcade is rolling for her second stop in Blue Bell, Pa.

Background from Harris-Walz campaign:

The First Lady is stopping by a Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) phone bank in West Chester, PA.

The First Lady is participating in a political event in support of the Harris Walz campaign at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, PA.

Speaking program:

• Sandra Jenkins, Campaign Volunteer
• Shannon Watts, Founder, Moms Demand Action
• First Lady Jill Biden

FLOTUS pool report #3 - Montgomery County event

Motorcade arrived at the Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, PA, at 5:49 pm.

The event is taking place in one of the halls. There are a little more than 200 people here, per the campaign.

It is her last event of her five-day, five-state campaign tour.

FLOTUS took the stage at 6:12 pm to shouts of "we love you Dr. Biden."

"So as most of you know, or you can tell from my accent, they tell me that I have one so you all do too, I'm a Philly girl through and through. I always feel right at home on a community college campus."

Her remarks made the same points she has made throughout this trip: She refuted "lies" about Kamala Harris; she said Harris would go after corporations keeping costs high after the pandemic, would help Americans buy homes and would protect reproductive rights.

She slammed Donald Trump for wanting to give corporations tax cuts and said "Donald Trump's abortion ban will take away the ability for women to make their own healthcare decisions."

"Kamala Harris is going to fight for you, and she needs great partners in the Senate so let's re-elect Bob Casey."

She said "I hate to say his name: Donald Trump." The crowd booed.

More: "Donald Trump wakes up every morning thinking about one person and one person only: himself. Another Trump administration would lead to more chaos, more greed, more division. He wants to lower taxes for rich guys like him, while costs for everyone else go up. Teachers, firefighters and nurses shouldn't have to pay a higher tax rate than CEOs."

"Register to vote by October 21 right now. In Montgomery County, you can vote early in person by visiting your local library."

She spoke about 15 minutes and worked the rope line when she was done.

At 6:38 pm the motorcade is rolling.

FLOTUS pool report #4 - Airport arrival

Motorcade arrived at the Philadelphia airport at 7:21 pm.

FLOTUS is catching a ride back to Joint Base Andrews with POTUS.

She boarded the 747 at 7:22 pm. FLOTUS is holding on the plane for POTUS arrival.

FLOTUS pool report #5 - JBA arrival

Air Force One was wheels down JBA at 7:59 pm.

FLOTUS disembarked at 8:10 pm with POTUS. They were holding hands as they walked down the stairs.

After shaking hands with the greeters, the Bidens walked hand in hand to Marine One.

That's a wrap on this five-day, five-state tour. Thanks to the East Wing staff for all their help with the logistics of this trip.