Pool Reports by Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today
| Sent: | Reports: |
| March 19, 2024 08:34 EDT |
In-town Pool Report #1 Hello, I am your in-town pooler today. The president is scheduled to depart the White House at 8:40 a.m. for a three-day trip to Nevada, Arizona and Texas. Pool is gathering now. |
| March 19, 2024 08:53 EDT |
In-town Pool Report #2 POTUS walked out of the South Portico wearing a dark navy-blue suit and sunglasses. He walked alone to Marine One without stopping for questions. Later, his aides, including Karine Jean- Pierre followed him and boarded through the back door. Marine One was wheels up at 8:50 en route to JBA. |
| March 19, 2024 09:00 EDT |
In-town pool report #3 (traveling with the president) The White House passes this along: Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews: Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff Natalie Quillian, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary |
Pool Reports below by Hailey Fuchs, Politico
| Sent: | Reports: |
| March 19, 2024 09:07 EDT |
Travel pool report #1 - JBA Good morning all. My name is Hailey Fuchs, and I'll be your print travel pool reporter for the next three days. The President exited Marine 1 at Joint Base Andrews at around 9:03 am. Wearing aviators, he walked to AF1 with an Air Force officer. The President waved to the press. He was on AF at 9:04am. Please see below for the schedule for today from the White House. EDT 7:45 AM Out-of-Town Pool Call Time 8:00 AM In-Town Pool Call Time 8:00 AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing 8:40 AM THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews 9:00 AM THE PRESIDENT departs Joint Base Andrews en route Nevada Air National Guard, Reno, Nevada 11:00 AM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Reno, Nevada 11:15 AM THE PRESIDENT participates in a campaign event 12:45 PM THE PRESIDENT departs Reno, Nevada en route Las Vegas, Nevada 1:55 PM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Las Vegas, Nevada 3:00 PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on lowering costs for American families 4:15 PM THE PRESIDENT departs Las Vegas, Nevada en route Phoenix, Arizona MST 5:15 PM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Phoenix, Arizona 5:35 PM THE PRESIDENT participates in a campaign event |
| March 19, 2024 10:56 PDT |
Travel pool report #2 — Arrival at Reno AF1 was wheels up from JBA at around 9:13am ET. There was a gaggle aboard AF1 with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. POTUS exited AF1 at the Reno-Tahoe airport at 10:50am PT. He saluted a few times, chatted briefly with two Air Force personnel, and greeted four more people. He spent some time chatting with them as well. He shook the hands of the two Air Force personnel and loaded into his car at about 10:54 am. I'll send the greeters when we get the names. |
| March 19, 2024 11:05 PDT |
Travel pool report #3 — Motorcade Traveling with the President via motorcade en route a campaign event in Reno, Nevada: Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff The two Air Force personnel who greeted POTUS upon arrival at the airport:
I will send the rest of the greeters when I get their names from the White House. |
| March 19, 2024 11:45 PDT |
Travel pool report #4 — Washoe County campaign event Supporters gathered for the President at the Washoe County Democratic Party headquarters, where the walls were plastered with signs for Biden Harris. There were about 40-50 supporters in the room. The President is here to launch a coordinated campaign office in Washoe County with Democrats. Kate Marshall, former Nevada lieutenant governor who served in the administration, introduced the President. She spoke about drug costs, Trump, and junk fees. Lots of boos when she said Trump wanted to ban abortion. She called Biden the "scrapper from Scranton." The President hugged Marshall. A significant portion of Biden's remarks focused on Trump. The President pointed to Trump's comments, said he means them, and POTUS said he would beat Trump again. Biden discussed drug pricing and said Trump wants to undo everything Biden's administration has done. POTUS joked that he looked 25 or 30. He said he was the most pro-labor president in history. Music interrupted the President's speech, and the crowd laughed. Biden discussed a call he had with Henry Kissinger about ten days before he died. Biden pointed to Trump's comments about NATO. Biden said the press were all "good guys." But said according to the last four polls out, he was winning. He did a Q&A with the crowd. He spoke about early childhood education and said his dad used to tell him a job was about more than just a paycheck. He said he was a capitalist, but people should pay their fair share. He said he would raise billionaires' taxes to 25% if he got a Democratic Congress. After his remarks, he greeted supporters, including some children. Afterwards, the press did a gaggle with Daniel Corona, a former mayor in Nevada and a deputy political coalitions director from northern Nevada with the Biden campaign, outside the building where the President spoke. Daniel Corona said Washoe County was the swingiest of swing counties in a swing state. When asked a question about the economy, Corona argued that the economy was scary under Trump. He said he was from rural Nevada and said they were hiring a political director to focus on rural Nevada. There were protesters outside the event yelling "Free Free Palestine" with Palestinian flags. |
| March 19, 2024 11:58 PDT |
Travel pool report #5 — motorcade rolling to airport After the campaign event, the motorcade is returning to the Reno-Tahoe airport. |
| March 19, 2024 12:12 PDT |
Travel pool report #6 — Wheels Up AF1 was wheels up at about 12:12 pm PT from the Reno-Tahoe airport. |
| March 19, 2024 13:17 PDT |
Travel pool report #7 — Las Vegas Arrival AF1 was wheels down at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas at 1:13 pm local time. From the White House: Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route Harry Reid International Airport: Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff |
| March 19, 2024 13:28 PDT |
Travel pool report #8 — Las Vegas Arrival Continued POTUS exited AF1 at around 1:24pm local time. He spent some time chatting with the two greeters before loading into the car. From the White House: Greeting the President upon arrival at Harry Reid International Airport: Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01) |
| March 19, 2024 13:31 PDT |
Travel Pool Report #9 — Motorcade rolling Motorcade rolling to the official event in the Las Vegas area. |
| March 19, 2024 13:58 PDT |
Travel pool report #10 — Arrival at Las Vegas community center The pool has arrived at the Stupak Community Center in Las Vegas. The event will be live streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMikQdk3htU From the White House: The President is delivering remarks on lowering costs for American families at the Stupak Community Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Participating in a photoline with the President: Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01) Speaking Program |
| March 19, 2024 14:49 PDT |
Travel pool report #11 — Las Vegas official event At the Las Vegas event, Reps. Steven Horsford (D-NV), Susie Lee (D-NV), and Dina Titus (D-NV) spoke, in that order, about the cost of housing, efforts to lower it, and the economy. There are about 100 supporters here. Two large red boards that flank the stage read "President Joe Biden Lowering Housing Costs." Juan Pablo Leos Soria, Member of the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons Local Union No. 797, spoke about the need for affordable housing and said he was on the market to buy a home. He introduced POTUS, calling him the most pro-union president. The President spoke about the American Rescue Plan, high-speed rail between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and housing, among other issues. He told a story about how a newspaper claimed he was the poorest man in Congress and his own humble childhood. He discussed efforts to reduce housing costs, among them combatting landlord price-fixing and housing junk fees. His speech was live streamed on the White House website. Please see that link in the previous pool report for the full details of the housing plan and his remarks. There was a standing ovation for POTUS at the end of his remarks. Some supporters are wearing t-shirts for carpenters local 1977. |
| March 19, 2024 14:51 PDT |
Travel pool report #12 — Motorcade rolling Motorcade is rolling back to Harry Reid International Airport. |
| March 19, 2024 15:20 PDT |
Travel pool report #13 — AF1 Leaving Las Vegas At the airport, Biden greeted a group that appeared to be law enforcement and took a photo with them. POTUS was on AF1 at about 3:11pm local time at Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport. AF1 was wheels up at about 3:20pm local time. |
| March 19, 2024 16:25 MST |
Travel pool report #14 — Phoenix arrival AF1 was wheels down in Phoenix, Ariz. around 4:09 pm local time. POTUS exited AF1 at around 4:20 pm local time. He chatted briefly with two greeters: Stephen Lewis, Governor of the Gila River Indian Community, and Robert Miguel, Chairman of the Ak-Chin Indian Community. The motorcade is rolling to the campaign event. From the White House: Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport: Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff Greeting the President upon arrival at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport: Stephen Lewis, Governor of the Gila River Indian Community The White House also said that Katie Hobbs, Governor of Arizona, and Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix, would be greeting the President. However, they were not waiting for the President to depart AF1. |
| March 19, 2024 17:30 MST |
Travel pool report #15 — Phoenix campaign event The pool has arrived at the campaign event at a Mexican restaurant called El Portal in Phoenix, Ariz. Some supporters are seated at tables and others are standing in the restaurant. Posters that say "Latinos con Biden Harris" are stuck to the walls. The event marked the start of an effort to reach Latino voters, called "Latinos con Biden Harris." The event started around 4:41pm local time. Supporters shouted "Viva Biden." Campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodríguez was the first speaker, introducing the effort to reach Latino voters. "Latinos proved in 2020 what we are capable of in Arizona and in so many critical states throughout this country, and we sent Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House the first time, and we're gonna do it again in 2024," she said. POTUS sat down on a bench next to a woman and her child while Julie Chávez Rodríguez spoke. Luis Reyes, a junior at Arizona State University introduced the President. He spoke about a fear instilled in the Latino community in Arizona and that his mother was an immigrant and his brother, a DACA recipient. Luis said he voted for the first time in a presidential election today (for Biden). He urged Latinos to come together to re-elect President Biden. Biden opened his remarks by saying he "couldn't resist" the little baby, next to whom he sat during the introductory remarks. "You're the reason why in large part I beat Donald Trump," Biden said, met with cheers from the crowd. "I need you badly." He highlighted Latino members of his administration, among them Sec. Becerra and Sec. Cardona. Biden also pointed to Trump's comments about the Latino community immigrants. He said, of Trump, "he only cares about the wealthy." He also pointed to his own humble childhood. "Nothing ever trickled down to my dad's kitchen table," Biden said. He repeated comments he made earlier today about being a capitalist and wanting to raise the billionaire tax rate to 25 percent. "I'm optimistic," Biden said. "There's nothing beyond our capacity." Biden concluded his remarks at 5:01pm local time. Arizona Democratic Party chairwoman Yolanda Bejarano gaggled after the event. Asked how Latinos feel about the cultural wars and abortion issue: "You know, I think Latinos - just like all demographics - understand that and believe that the government has no place in it. It's a personal, private decision that is between a woman, her family and her doctor. The government should not be interfering." More: "I think Latinos believe that, you know, that women have to make that decision. And that's a private decision, personal decision. So you know, there might be some folks that do not agree with that. But I do believe that the majority of folks believe that the government has no right to interfere." Asked why Latinos are being drawn to Republicans: "I think it's that we have not been talking to folks about the issues that President Biden has been delivering on and that's what we are determined to do. Things like jobs, the CHIPS act, you know, the inflation Reduction Act, lowering prescription drug prices capping insulin at $35 a month, protecting Social Security, Medicare, … while Donald Trump has just said recently that he can see some he wants to make some cuts to some entitlement programs." Asked why Latinos are drawn to Trump: "It's people like to be entertained. And sometimes Donald Trump, what he does is it provides that entertainment. People like laugh at his rallies, you know, it's like they're going to a circus. They're listening to him just joke about things - very, very serious things … We just need to be very, very focused and you know, make sure that Latinos understand exactly who Donald Trump is and what a danger he presents to us." Asked how close Arizona will be in November: "In 2020, it was very close. President Biden won by almost 11,000 votes, and we're going to do everything possible to make sure that he wins again. So I think it's going to be it'd be a battle. We're a battleground state." On progressive concerns about Gaza: "It's a tragedy. It's heartbreaking. I support our President and our vice president, you know, working towards a ceasefire and and finding a solution. With that being said, you know, I think what's on the ballot in November is health care, reproductive rights, our economy and frankly, our democracy is at stake." More on Trump: " He's a businessman but we're seeing with all of his, you know, the juries that are coming out all the convictions, everything that he's doing, he's not a smart businessman. He is underwater. He, you know, lies and cheats his way to, to this position that he's in and I think sometimes people like, you know, they think that he's a businessman, but we're calling him out and they're seeing the truth now." |
| March 19, 2024 17:44 MST |
Pool report #16 — motorcade rolling The motorcade is rolling to the RON. |
| March 19, 2024 18:27 MST |
Travel pool report #17 — Lid Lid was called at 6:25 pm local time. |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of March 19, 2024 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/370925