Vice Presidential Pool Reports of November 9, 2023

VP travel pool report #1 - wheels down

VP landed at 11:05 a.m. at Boston Logan International Airport.

VP travel pool report #2 - Lieutenant Gov

VP meets Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll at 11:17 a.m.

VP travel pool #3 - Pipefitters Local 537

VP took the stage at Pipefitters Local 537 Apprenticeship event at 12:09 p.m.

She joing panelist Brian Doherty of Boston Building Trade Unions on the stage.

VP travel pool #4 - Apprenticeship Event Remarks

VP began speaking at 12:11 p.m. at Pipefitters Local 537 and spoke for about 30 minutes about the vitality of unions and apprenticeships. She urged the importance of "bringing people in" to the conversation that are not being heard from. VP was met with a standing ovation at the beginning and end of her talk.

VP travel pool report #1 — DNC fundraiser in Boston

Hello from the Ritz Carlton hotel in downtown Boston, where your pooler is with the VP at a DNC fundraising event.

VP walked out to a standing ovation around 1:35 p.m. after being introduced by Georgia Murray, one of the hosts of the event. There are about 160 people here. She is participating in a moderated conversation with Quentin Fulks, principal deputy campaign manager for the Biden-Harris campaign.

VP opened with remarks about Israel:

"The president and I are very clear that Israel has a right to defend itself and it is a right that we support."

"We also strongly have urged and believe that it is critical that the people of Gaza receive humanitarian aid and we are working around the clock in that regard."

VP says there should be "no intentional targeting of civilians. We have been very active in making our position very clear, both with our friends and on the international stage."

"One of our highest priorities is to bring American hostages home, and we are working around the clock on that as well."

More than 100 protesters had gathered outside the hotel ahead of the VP's arrival, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Pooler does not know if the VP saw them on her way in. VP did not mention it.

VP travel pool report #2 — DNC fundraiser in Boston

VP spoke for about half an hour, taking questions from Fulks about her "Fight for Our Freedoms College Tour," artificial intelligence, this week's elections and 2024.

On the college tour:

"I love Gen Z," VP said. "They are not going to be patient about us getting something done" on gun safety and reinstating "the protections of Roe." ... "I love that about them."

On Tuesday's election results in Ohio and Virginia and how the VP is keeping people engaged on the issue:

"I do believe there is an intentional full-on attack against so many of our hard-won, hard-fought freedoms and rights. And this is a part of that agenda. And we have to be clear. And the way [we] talk about it is that it's a fight for our freedoms."

"This is affirming, I think for all of us, that voters said 'nope, nope there's a line that should not be crossed when it comes to what fundamentally is right.' And thank God that those leaders in Virginia and everybody who supported this not only maintained the Senate [but won] the House of Delegates."On the 2024 election:

"Everything is at stake in this election."

"When I was in London last week, a number of world leaders came up to me. And the first point they wanted to discuss was: 'You guys gonna be OK in this election?" It was in their self-interest. And the fear among the many fears is that if we don't get it right, it is not only about who we are as a country, it is about our standing in the world."

"Our standing as a nation is at stake. The ability that we have had to strengthen alliances around the world is because Joe Biden is president, it is because he understands how to bring people together. They respect his leadership."

"These next many months it will be about reminding people of what's at stake, it will be about reminding people of the contrasts."

Details about the fundraiser:

The pre-program before the VP's arrival included remarks from Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Steve Kerrigan, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Attorney General Andrea Campbell. Like Harris, Wu and Campbell are both "firsts" in their respective elected offices. Wu is the first woman and first person of color to be elected mayor of Boston. Campbell is the first Black woman elected to serve as the state's attorney general.

Guests dined on salmon salads and creme brûlée for dessert.

This is your pooler's last report.