Vice Presidential Pool Reports of July 9, 2024

Hi all. I'm your pooler for the vice president's two-day swing through Las Vegas and Dallas.

VPOTUS got off Marine 2 at 11:08 am

She exchanged pleasantries with a greeter and waved but didn't engage with the press.

Wheels up shortly.

The temperature in Vegas is 114 degrees. Send cool thoughts.

Here's the schedule, as put out by the White House and campaign.

On Tuesday, July 9, Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver remarks at a campaign event in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will highlight the stakes of the election for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.

At 2:25 PM PT, the Vice President will deliver remarks at a campaign event. These remarks will be pooled press and open to pre-credentialed media.

At 3:35 PM PT, the Vice President will participate in a moderated conversation during a campaign event. This conversation will be closed press.

On Wednesday, July 10, the Vice President will deliver a keynote speech during Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.'s 71st Boulé in Dallas, TX.

AF2 was wheels up at 11:25 a.m. ET and wheels down in Las Vegas at 12:49 PT

VPOTUS came to the back of the cabin to speak to reporters off the record. Otherwise an uneventful nearly 5-hour flight.

VPOTUS disembarked at 1:04 p.m. and we are rolling to the first event. Ground temperature here is 113 degrees for anyone keeping score.

VPOTUS arrived at UNLV campus to a USA basketball training camp at 1:15 pm. Grant Hill and some other officials were standing at the door waiting.

Spotted Steve Kerr, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, Anthony Edwards, Kawhi Leonard and some other tall people practicing.
Harris entered at 1:23 pm escorted by Kerr. Called the team "Ambassadors for who we are as a country."

"You need to go to Paris and bring back that gold."

"We are so proud of you. Beat Canada and bring back that gold.

She had private words with Curry and other players out of earshot of pool. She shook hands and chatted with James, who said it was nice to meet her.

Motorcade is rolling at 1:31 pm. Arrived at Resorts World Las Vegas at 1:47 pm.

The White House releases these excerpts from Harris's speech:

EXCERPTS FROM VP HARRIS REMARKS TODAY IN LAS VEGAS

"Trump's advisors have created a 900-page blueprint— called 'Project 2025'— detailing everything else they plan to do in a second term, including a plan to cut Social Security, repeal our $35 cap on insulin, eliminate the Department of Education and end programs like Head Start.

…

"Recently, the Supreme Court basically told this individual— who has been convicted of fraud— that, going forward, he will be immune for activity we know he is prepared to engage in if he gets back into the White House.

"Donald Trump wants to turn our democracy into a dictatorship, and the Supreme Court basically just declared he can get away with it.

"If the Supreme Court says the laws do not apply to Donald Trump, if people like Mike Pence are not around to stand up to him, and if extremists in Congress continue to bow down to him, our last line of defense is the ballot box."

VPOTUS Pool report No. 5 -- Speech, Defense of Biden

Harris began speaking at 2:20 p.m. PST and concluded at 2:35 p.m. There are several hundred people here, most of them standing. Harris is backdropped by signs that say AANHPIs for Biden-Harris. She walked out to applause and chants of "four more years."

The event was livestreamed on several sites, see previous pool reports for excerpts.

Harris started out by acknowledging and accepting the endorsements of several AANHPI groups.

Here are some selected quotes (as always check against the transcript):

On Biden's recent struggles: "And the past few days have been a reminder that running for President of the United States is never easy. But the one thing that we know about our President Joe Biden is that he is a fighter. And he is the first to say when you get knocked down, you get back up."

"We stand for the beauty and diversity and the promise of America."

"In this election, there can be no doubt who you can fight for you when it counts … When he was in the White House, Donald Trump tried more than 60 times to end the Affordable Care Act."

"What we've done with medical debt, that means it can no longer be used to deny you a car loan or a home loan."

"We have also fought to protect our communities from hate and violence, including by passing the Covid-19 hate crimes act which made it easier for AANHPI communities to report acts of hate. On the other hand, the former president consistently incites hate toward the AANHPI community."

"Donald Trump wants to turn our Democracy into a dictatorship, and the Supreme Court just declared he can get away with it."

"Now, over 20 states have a Trump abortion ban, many with no exceptions for rape or incest … If Trump gets a chance he will sign a national abortion ban."

"Our last line of defense is the ballot box. Our vote. Our vote."

The White House sends this note:

On background from a Biden-Harris campaign official:
Vice President Kamala Harris is speaking at a campaign event in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event marks the kickoff of AANHPIs for Biden-Harris.
The Vice President was introduced by Maya Kwong, owner of Xiao Long Dumplings. The program included remarks by television host, writer, and executive producer Padma Lakshmi, Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Joi Oliver, and Assm. Erica Mosca. Assm. Mosca was joined on stage by Assms. Brittney Miller and Cecelia Gonzalez.

Pool is holding. Though this is Harris's last scheduled public event of the day.

VPOTUS pool report No. 6 — leaving Las Vegas

After speaking to the crowd, Harris participated in a moderated conversation that was closed press.

On background from a Biden-Harris campaign official: The Vice President is participating in a moderated conversation hosted by the Social Change Fund United. The conversation was moderated by CJ McCollum and Chris Paul.

Motorcade departed Resorts World Las Vegas at 4:20 pm. Pool did not see VPOTUS enter the SUV.

After a brief drive through 117-degree Las Vegas, motorcade arrived at Air Force 2 at 4:34 pm. VPOTUS boarded at 4:36 pm.

And we are wheels up shortly.

AF2 was wheels up in Las Vegas at 4:45 pm and wheels down in Dallas at 9:11 pm central time.

No visitors to the back of the plane; uneventful flight.

VPOTUS disembarked at 9:25 pm and took no questions before walking into the armored SUV.

Motorcade arrived at the RON at 9:54.

That's all from Dallas for the night.