Pool Reports of February 3, 2024

WH travel pool 1 — joining POTUS motorcade

The pool van joined in to the rear of the president's motorcade at 1101 a few blocks from his home.

WH travel pool report 2 — church

The motorcade arrived at St. Joseph on the Brandywine church at 1104

The president is visiting the grave sites of his son, Beau, and his first wife and daughter. He is accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden.

Pool is holding in the bus.

WH travel pool report 3 — motorcade rolling again

The president and first lady got back into their SUV and At 1113 the motorcade is underway again.

WH travel pool report 4 — campaign HDQ

The president's motorcade arrived at the Biden-Harris campaign headquarters at 1119.

He is here for a ceremonial opening and is scheduled to address to staff at about noon.

WH travel pool report 5 — program

From the campaign:

On behalf of the Biden-Harris Campaign:

The President, the First Lady, the Vice President, and the Second Gentleman are meeting and speaking with supporters and staff at their campaign headquarters.

Speaking Program
Julie Chavez Rodriguez
The Vice President
The President

Also — the motorcade travelers, per the WH:

Traveling with the President and the First Lady via motorcade:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady
Liz Sherwood-Randall, Assistant to the President & Homeland Security Advisor
Jordan Montoya, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the First Lady
Andrew Bates, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Press Secretary & Senior Communications Advisor for Strategic Response

WH travel pool report 6 — remarks

The president spoke to a few hundred supporters backed into staffers and supporters packed into the low-ceilinged, open plan office.

His remarks lasted 6 minutes, and he hit his usual themes of preserving democracy.

"This is more of a mission. We cannot lose this campaign. For the good of the country."

More quotes when I get a chance to transcribe.

WH travel pool report 7 -- quotes from remarks

Biden, as he has done more aggressively of late, framed the coming election as one about democracy itself. He attacked the "behavior" of his predecessor, Donald Trump and said it had continued to deteriorate.

"The guy we're running against, he's not for anything. He's against everything."

Biden said that as Americans began to pay attention to the coming election, the contrast between him and Trump would help the campaign.

"Folks are starting to focus in," he said, and then cited a Quinnipiac national poll showing him leading Trump by six points as well as two Pennsylvania polls showing him ahead in that state.

He also pointed out his victory in the New Hampshire primary, in which Democratic congressman Dean Phillips spent considerable time and money.

"By the way, in New Hampshire. We weren't on the ballot. Couldn't campaign there. But guess what: We got 64 percent."

Biden repeatedly emphasized the importance of defeating Trump.

"There's a lot at stake here, folks. We have an enormous obligation."

"This is not just a campaign. This is more of a mission. We cannot, we cannot, we cannot lose his campaign, for the good of the country. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart. It's not about me, it goes well beyond me."

Many thanks for co-pooler Aurelia End for transcription help.

WH travel pool report 8 — motorcade to air guard base

The president was still greeting supporters as pool was escorted to the press van.

At 1245 the motorcade is underway toward Delaware Air National Guard base, from where the president is take his helicopter to Philadelphia airport to board Air Force 1 for the trip out west.

WH travel pool 9 — Biden on Marine 1

The motorcade pulled onto the tarmac at Delaware Air National Guard base at 1301.

The president and first lady walked the few yards from their SUV to the helicopter and climbed aboard. The pool was too far away to even try yelling questions.

Marine 1 was in the air at 1310, en route to Philadelphia where he will get aboard Air Force 1 for the trip to Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Handing off to that pool now.

WH travel pool report 9a — Marine 1 travelers

Per the WH press office:

Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Marine One en route to Philadelphia International Airport:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady
Jordan Montoya, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the First Lady

Supplemental Pool report #1 - Departing Philly

POTUS touched down at Philadelphia airport on M1 at 1:26 pm on a breezy day, accompanied by FLOTUS.

POTUS, wearing sunglasses, boarded AF1 using the short stairs at 1:31 pm. He did not take questions from the pool. A plastic bag blew across the tarmac as POTUS and FLOTUS made their way across the tarmac from M1 to AF1. He made a playful step as if to catch it but kept walking.

The pool had earlier deadheaded from JBA to Philadelphia airport aboard the 747, which will be flying POTUS to Los Angeles.

AF1 will be wheels up shortly.

Per the WH

Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Air Force One en route to Los Angeles International Airport:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady
Liz Sherwood-Randall, Assistant to the President & Homeland Security Advisor
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Director of Communications
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Mala Adiga, Deputy Assistant to the President & Director of Policy & Projects for the First Lady
Jordan Montoya, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the First Lady
Kristin Lynch, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Presidential Speechwriter for the First Lady
Rykia Dorsey, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Communications Advisor to the First Lady

Supplemental pool report #2 - arrival in LA

AF1 landed in Los Angeles at 3:25 pm (local time) with POTUS and FLOTUS aboard. No officials had visited the press cabin during the flight.

On the tarmac, the president was greeted by Sen. Padilla and Rep. Waters, and members of their families. He posed for selfies and photographs.

The president waved to the pool but did not come over to chat.

At 3:40 pm, he boarded M1, en route to Santa Monica. It is windy and overcast. FLOTUS joined the motorcade for her own event.

The pool was rushed to its own helicopter.

Lift off shortly.

Per the WH

Greeting the President and the First Lady upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport:

Senator Alex Padilla (CA)
Diego Cruz Padilla, son of Senator Padilla
Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43)
Karen Waters, daughter of Rep. Waters

Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Santa Monica Airport Landing Zone:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations

Supplemental pool report #3 - arrival in Santa Monica

POTUS stepped off M1 at 4:00 pm in Santa Monica after a short flight from LA.

He got into the Beast without talking to the pool.

We are rolling shortly

Supplemental pool report #4

Per the WH, the president is now participating in a campaign meeting.

The meeting is taking place in Bel Air. Pool was told we will be holding for its duration.

Of note: As we were traveling in the motorcade along the 405, your pooler observed at least six vehicles with large Palestinian flags. Some passengers were hanging out the windows waving them as the motorcade drove by.

Supplemental pool report #5 - departing Bel Air

The motorcade left POTUS's campaign event in Bel Air at 6:29 pm.

The pool did not see POTUS.

Supplemental pool #6

The motorcade has arrived at the RON. Did not lay eyes on POTUS.

Supplemental pool report #7 - Lid

The WH declared a lid at 6:51 pm. Have a good night all.