Vice Presidential Pool Reports of August 29, 2024

VP Pool Report #1 – pool gathering

Good morning from Savannah!

Pool is gathering at 12:20.

VP Pool Report #2 – rolling

The motorcade is rolling from the hotel at 1:29 pm. Pool didn't see VP Harris enter the bus, which was waiting at the hotel loading dock.

There are blue skies but some clouds now, and it's lightly raining.

VP Pool Report #3 – interview

The motorcade stopped at 1:48 at an intersection with a church, a KFC, habitat for humanity, Kim's Cafe, and the Chatham County Democratic Committee. Pool didn't see VP Harris. The motorcade is holding now, while the VP and Gov. Walz sit for an interview with CNN in Kim's Cafe.

Around 10 people at the intersection stood in the rain with umbrellas, some wearing "Black Voters Matter" shirts.

Driving through Savannah, the motorcade passed local businesses and restaurants, a dispensary, and a housing complex of two story buildings.

The motorcade passed a Black man wearing a shirt that said "it's about us" on the back, and "Black voters matter fund" on the front. Standing in the now-pouring rain, he was holding a sign that read something like "now we fight". A couple cars stopped at the intersection honked as the motorcade passed.

Other people, some waving, stood and watched along the route. A woman standing in the doorway of the Ralph Gilbert Civil Rights Museum waved with both arms. A man wearing a "Black voters matter fund" shirt saluted the motorcade, holding a sign that read "it's about us."

Leaving the hotel people waved from inside three pickup trucks with American Flag and "Wayne Johnson" decals were parked behind a police cruiser.

A little further down, there were a couple dozen Trump supporters wearing Trump shirts, waving flags, and holding Trump Vance signs.

From the WH:

On behalf of the Harris-Walz Campaign

Vice President Harris and Governor Walz are participating in a joint CNN interview with Dana Bash. The interview is taking place at Kim's Cafe, a local Black-owned restaurant in Savannah, Georgia. The interview will air in the 9pm hour tonight.

VP Pool Report #4 – rolling again

The motorcade is rolling again at 3:08.

Pool didn't see VP Harris or Gov. Walz enter the bus.

There's a Harris Walz sign in the median nearby.

While pool was holding there were some shouts from a parking lot behind the van, and pool could just barely see what looked like some kids with backpacks in an altercation. someone in a uniform and yellow vest — maybe a police officer — intervened and everything seemed to calm quickly.

VP Pool Report #5 – OTR stop

The motorcade stopped at 3:12 on a street near the North Historic District. Pool was ushered into Dottie's Market Savannah and is holding.

People lined the street, filming.

VP Pool Report #6 – Dottie's Market

VP Harris entered Dottie's market at 3:20, cheered by people on the street.

She greeted some people, including a girl with a bow in her hair.

Quotes, but please check against transcript:

"You know, I might just be voting for you some day!" She said to someone pool couldn't see

"We are not going back"

"So tell me about Dottie's," she said to the owner, a woman

Harris spoke with the owner and a couple other people, nodding as she listened to them

Pool was just too far away to hear full quotes

She said something about the community being important

"And you're civic leaders as well"

Then she moved towards the counter. "Chocolate AND caramel?" She said, looking at the pastry case.

She talked with someone behind the counter about scallops. "Better than fried oysters. Really?" They then laughed at other comments

There's a counter with a pastry case. On the other wall there are shelves with wine, and a display of woven baskets. The cafe has dark wood floors and high ceilings painted black. There are big windows at the front. Will post pics on X.

The VP went over to look at baskets, picking one up. She then moved down the wall to look at jars of things. The VP is holding a basket, looks like she plans to purchase it.

"So this is a one stop shop" she said to the owner.

Pool could hear the VP talking about "the economy as a whole" with the owner and a man

Harris is wearing a white jacket and black pants. Black loafers with a gold buckle.

The owner pointed someone out, saying something that sounded like they wrote a cookbook. "You did?" Said Harris, enthusiastically.

Pool was ushered out at 3:33.

Note: Walz left in his motorcade from Kim's Cafe after the interview.

From the WH:

On behalf of the Harris-Walz Campaign

Vice President Harris stopped by Dottie's Market in Savannah. Rep. Nikema Williams and Savannah Mayor Van Johnson were also in attendance.

VP Pool Report #7 – rolling

The motorcade is rolling again at 3:45. People cheered and waved.

When pool left Dottie's there were still people lining the street on both sides, including a big crowd outside the door to the market.

More quotes from Harris inside Dottie's, thanks to radio:

"What I'm going to be rolling out next week is basically a tax credit for startups, small business startups." she said to the owners

VP Pool Report #8 – another stop

The motorcade stopped at 3:51 at The Grey, a restaurant. Pool is holding inside.

People stood along the street on the way, waving and smiling.

From the WH:

On behalf of the Harris-Walz Campaign

Vice President Harris stopped by a volunteer appreciation event at The Grey, a restaurant in downtown Savannah. Rep. Nikema Williams and Savannah Mayor Van Johnson were also in attendance.

VP Pool Report #9 – The Grey

VP Harris walked in at 3:56. People cheered, and a woman in a blue dress who first greeted Harris said "oh my goodness." People cheered when Harris entered the back room.

Harris shook hands with people around the room.

Quotes: (please check against transcript)

"Thank you, thank you. Congratulation"

"To all the volunteers I just wanted to come by and say thank you. To the UFCW, for all the work you did…"

"There's so much that has happened in our country that makes people feel like they're alone or they're not seen"

"You guys are doing the work on the ground and I cannot thank you enough"

"Thank you all" - everyone cheered. She stopped speaking around 3:58

While Harris spoke, people were gathered in a circle around her.

After, she continued greeting people, sometimes clasping their hands as she spoke to them.

She posed for a photo with a group, some of whom were wearing UFCW and Educators for Kamala and Tim shirts. Pool couldn't quite hear, but kept catching the words "teachers" and "teaching".

One person dialed a number on her phone and handed it to Harris. "Madison?" She said. "I'm so proud of you" "we have 68 days to go"

"I'm counting down every one," Madison responded. "All my friends are voting for you."

"Where in Wisconsin are you?" Harris asked

"Bye honey," said Harris, at the end. Thank you, she said to the group, with her hand over her chest.

The back of the restaurant is a room with tall ceilings and light fixtures with large white globes hanging from a beam below a skylight. There are people sitting in booths, at tables, and around a bar. The seats have a blue-great leather. There are plates of watermelon skewers, small sandwiches, and oysters on ice. Some people are wearing Georgia Democrats shirts, 'Educators for Kamala and Tim' shirts, and yellow UFCW shirts.

Press was escorted out at 4:05. Harris was still posing for photos.

VP Pool Report #10 – rolling

The motorcade is rolling again at 4:21. Pool didn't see Harris enter the bus.

Some photos and videos on X. https://x.com/sophiemhills/status/1829250105251434544?s=46

Otter recording, if useful: https://otter.ai/u/iwY-em8NTOgEqlhR0J3lvzhTFOQ

VP Pool Report #11 – arrived at rally

The motorcade stopped at the rally site, at Enmarket Arena, at 4:27. The bus pulled into a loading dock under the garage. Pool didn't see Harris.

Along the way, the motorcade passed more people wearing "Black Voters Matter Fund" shirts.

VP Pool Report #12 – Harris speaks

Harris stepped out at 5:10. The whole arena stood up, cheering and holding up signs reading "Georgia" "A New Way Forward" and "Harris Walz"

She was introduced by Katelyn Green, student body president of Savannah State University, who introduced Harris as "a fellow HBCU alum"

Rally is streamed, so check for quotes.

The arena was mostly full when pool entered around 4:30 and a DJ was playing. At one point, people were waving their phones back and forth with their flashlights on.

There's a huge sign behind the stage that says "A New Way Forward Harris Walz" and another one on a different wall that says "Freedom" and is flanked by two American flags.

The campaign says the crowd count is over 7,500.

VP Pool Report #13 – more rally

The crowd chanted "not going back" when Harris said Trump intends to repeal the ACA, and at other times chanted "Kamala."

It looked like at least half the crowd remained standing through the VP's remarks.

"Amen" yelled a man when Harris said people shouldn't have to abandon their faith to oppose abortion bans. The crowd cheered

Around 5:25, someone in the crowd behind Harris started yelling in support of Gaza. They were escorted out and the crowd yelled to drown out what they were saying. A couple minutes later, a second person yelling and waving a keffiyeh was surrounded and escorted out. Video on X.

Harris stopped speaking at 5:33. She stepped off the stage into the crowd out of sight of the pool.

VP Pool Report #14 – rolling

The motorcade is rolling from the arena at 5:54pm.

VP Pool Report #15 – wheels up

The motorcade stopped at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport at 6:16.

VP Harris stepped off the bus and posed for a photo with a group in front of the bus. She waved to the press but didn't take any questions and boarded Air Force Two at 6:20.

AF2 is wheels up for Joint Base Andrews shortly.

As the motorcade drove away from the rally, a crowd of supporters lined the road, waving signs. A small group of Gaza protestors stood there, too, with a banner reading "ceasefire" and a smaller sign reading "ceasefire now."

VP Pool Report #16 – JBA

AF2 was wheels up from Savannah at 6:35 pm and landed at JBA at 7:44. The vice president deplaned at 8:08 and waved the press. It's lightly raining, and some lightening flashed while the VP was getting into her SUV. The motorcade started rolling at 8:09.

The plane was slow to taxi to the motorcade because of weather.

Thanks to my fellow poolers for their help this trip!

Good night.

VP Pool Report #17 – lid

The VP's office called a lid at 9 pm.