Vice Presidential Pool Reports of June 26, 2024

VP travel pool report #1 - fundraiser arrival

Vice President Kamala Harris arrived at 6:43 p.m. to speak at a Biden Victory Fund fundraiser event hosted at the Bradbury home of Dr. Asif Mahmood.

Bradbury, a small city at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, in Los Angeles County, is home to about 1,000 residents.

Mahmood, a local physician and pulmonologist, introduced Harris who thanked Mahmood for his years of support.

Harris stood under an outdoor awning in the backyard of the large Bradbury home. About 50 people sat poolside on white folding chairs.

Silver catering trays lined one side of the walkway around the pool and guests stood under large white umbrellas to escape the heat prior to the vice president's arrival.

VP travel pool report #2 - fundraiser remarks

Vice President Kamala Harris laid out the importance of Thursday night's presidential debate during twelve minutes of remarks at a Biden Victory Fund fundraiser event Wednesday night.

"I will tell you the debate is going to frame race," Harris said.

She said Americans will be able to see a clear contrast between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Harris said Biden spends his time thinking about the American people and how to uplift them. She mentioned working to reduce costs, creating jobs and building the middle class.

"On the other hand you have the former president who cares only about himself," Harris said.

The vice president said Trump calls himself a fighter but said he fights for himself and is seeking the presidency for personal gain.

"We're also going to see on that debate stage a Donald Trump who we know has always been unburdened by truth," Harris said. "That's not a burden he carries, to tell the truth."

Harris said this was at least the third time she had visited Mahmood's home and noted that she had previously spoken from a different part of the backyard. Her podium had been placed in the shade to account for the early evening sun.

She highlighted the urgency of the coming months by pointing out that election day is 132 days away.

"Not a lot of time. And we are going to win," Harris said through applause. "And we are going to win. It's not going to be easy but we are going to win."

Harris said she's been thinking about the moment in the context of the promise of America.

"In this election, we will determine what kind of country we want and we will make a statement about who we are as a country," Harris said.

During trips across the country in the last six months, mostly to swing states, Harris said she has heard people's concern about a full-on attack on fundamental freedoms and rights. She pointed to the freedom to vote and women's rights.

"What happened to love thy neighbor?," Harris asked. "When we look at the attacks on the freedom of women to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do. Attacks on basic liberties."

VP travel pool report #3- fundraiser closing

Vice President Kamala Harris expanded on women's rights, noting that there were many physicians in attendance Wednesday night.

She said former President Donald Trump hand selected three members of the Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe v. Wade.

"They did exactly as he intended," Harris said.

In the wake of the decision made two years ago this week, Harris said, states across the country proposed and passed laws to criminalize healthcare providers.

"This is the United States of America and laws are being proposed and passed that would jail, imprison healthcare providers for providing care," Harris said. "Let's think about what that means for a moment."

Harris closed by reiterating that so much is at stake in the coming election.

She said while an intact democracy protects freedom and liberty, it is fragile.

"It is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it," Harris said. "And so fight we will. And fight we must. And here's the beauty of it all, when we fight we win."

She thanked the guests who responded with applause as she left the podium.