Vice Presidential Pool Reports of October 24, 2023

VP IN-TOWN POOL REPORT #1

Hello from the Line Hotel in Washington, D.C., where VP Harris is making a previously unannounced drop-in to the Center for American Progress IDEAS Conference (more on that here: https://www.americanprogress.org/events/2023-cap-ideas-conference/)

An embargo was placed on the pool until the VP hit the stage.

The VP’s motorcade rolled from the White House at 6:57pm. We did not see the VP enter her vehicle or exit at the Line Hotel. The pool was taken in through a separate entrance.

There is over 200 people in attendance at tonight’s reception, with cocktails flowing and people mingling ahead of the VP’s surprise appearance.

The VP’s office passed along this guidance:

On Background from a White House official:

Today, Vice President Kamala Harris will make a surprise visit to the opening reception of the Center for American Progress IDEAS Conference in Washington, DC.

During her visit, the Vice President will give remarks to attendees congratulating CAP on 20 years of impact. The Vice President also commended the organization for partnering with the Biden-Harris Administration to deliver historic progress for millions of families across America.

VP hit the stage at 7:18pm.

Quotes, color, and an otter to come.

VP IN-TOWN POOL #2

Remarks by the VP started at 7:18pm. Some fuller quotes included below as well as an otter (https://otter.ai/u/iD-PkiqAEr7p0nkCwJ_oxMVLxa8).

On the war in Israel: "I will tell you I am spending countless hours with our president …in classified briefings and meetings with our intelligence community and military leaders." VP says President Biden is "working tirelessly to ensure" the US stands "with Israel's right to defend itself," and that "we must prioritize humanitarian values that the rules of war provide there'd be no intentional attack for civilians, that humanitarian aid."

On her fall college tour to "fight for our freedoms": "Our young leaders are inspiring all of us because they are so clear that this is a moment in time where so many fundamentals are at stake. And it is incumbent on each of us to fight for those freedoms that was part five part one freedoms that cabins almost two, I think we all here know that there is a full on intentional attack against those freedoms. We have the freedom to vote, the freedom to love openly with pride, who you love. The freedom for a moment is for people to make decisions about their own body, the free air to be free from hate and bigotry. The freedom to just be."

Wrapping up her remarks, Harris said "when we fight - (crowd joined in) WE WIN!"

Remarks ended at 7:25pm and the VP promptly exited the stage. Motorcade left the hotel at 7:31pm.

Tweet with a photo of the room: https://x.com/casssemyon/status/1716957856279175402?s=46&t=bOw80na_GSQRcxJ7HkMzKg

That's all from me - have a good night!