Vice Presidential Pool Reports of December 16, 2023

VP Supplemental #1 - Celebration Bowl Trip

Good afternoon!

I am your pooler for VPOTUS Kamala Harris' day trip to Atlanta, Georgia, where she and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will attend the Cricket Celebration Bowl held at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The VP's alma mater, Howard University, will be playing against Florida A&M University. The two HBCUs are the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) champions, respectively.

The VPOTUS, sporting an Howard shirt underneath a Black blazer, arrived by helicopter at JBA at 10:16 a.m. and stepped out at 10:18 a.m. She was greeted by SGOTUS before they boarded AF2.

Traveling with the VP is her sister Maya Harris and her husband Tony West.

AF2 was wheels up at 10:32 a.m. and landed at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport at 12:01 p.m.

VPOTUS and SGOTUS stepped off AF2 at 12:15 p.m. They were greeted by Senator Raphael Warnock and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.

Motorcade began rolling to Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 12:18 p.m.

VP Supplemental #2 - Game concludes/VP visits local business

Motorcade arrived at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium at approximately 12:40 p.m. Your pooler did not get a sight of VPOTUS upon arrival.

The VP conducted an interview with ESPN at approximately 1:10 p.m. Harris continued to watch the game from a private suite. The pool was held at a different location at a press box, but spotted the VP on the jumbotron briefly during halftime as the Howard "Showtime" marching band performed.

The VP was also spotted on the jumbotron clapping after Howard lost to FAMU, 30-26.

The pool was quickly moved out of the stadium when the game concluded at approximately 3:50 p.m. Motorcade began rolling at 4:08 p.m.

At 4:15 p.m., VPOTUS made a stop at The Busy Bee, a local soul food restaurant nearby the Atlanta University Center.

VPOTUS walked in with civil rights leader Melanie Campbell, and was joined by SGOTUS, VP's sister Maya Harris, the VP's brother-in-law Tony West.

As VP walked inside and greeted Busy Bee owner Tracy Gates, Harris said of the football match, "It was a good. We didn't win. FAMU did their thing."

The Vice President continued to speak with Gates and Busy Bee staff for about 10 minutes. Harris expressed excitement for some of the dessert selections: the sweet potato pie and banana pudding.

Afterwards, VPOTUS and company exited the restaurant with Gates and talked briefly with the press outside the restaurant. Harris was asked by local Atlanta station WSB-TV reporter what her message was to Georgia voters.

She said, "The voters in Georgia are so very important." The VP OK thanked Georgia voters for electing her and President Biden, highlighting some of the administration's accomplishments, including capping insulin cost at $35 for seniors, $7 billion investments in HBCUs, bringing high-speed internet to rural communities — including those in Georgia.

Harris told AJC's Tia Mitchell that despite her alma mater's loss, it was still a win because HBCU culture was represented.

VP's motorcade arrived back at the Atlanta international airport at 4:43 p.m.

Harris exited her SUV at 4:47 p.m., took a photo with her advance team, and said goodbye to her sister Maya before Harris, SGOTUS and West boarded AF2.

AF2 will be wheels up shortly.

VP Supplemental Pool #3 - AF2 lands at JBA

AF2 landed at JBA at 6:19 p.m.

VPOTUS and SGOTUS walked off AF2 at 6:30.

That's it for your pooler!