Vice Presidential Pool Reports of October 24, 2024

VP travel pool #1: press gaggle

Good morning from Philadelphia.

I'll be your pooler on this three-state day. We are headed to Atlanta for a rally with former President Barack Obama featuring Bruce Springsteen. Then we will be flying to Houston, hometown of

We are having a previously unscheduled gaggle with the VP in the RON.

Pool has been swept and is holding in a room as of 12:51pm.

VP travel pool #2: gaggle

Harris entered the room at 1:27 pm.

Began with brief remarks about new endorsements from Republicans and about Trump not taking part in the town hall last night.

Answered qs about Springsteen appearing at her rallies, the gender gap in her supporters, California's Prop 36 (drug and theft penalties) and whether she would continue building the border wall.

She took questions for 4 minutes and departed at 1:31 pm.

Will send quotes from the motorcade, we are on the move.

VP travel pool #3: Heading for the airporr

A crowd formed all around the hotel. Your pooler spotted Sen. Bob Casey and former Rep. Cedric Richmond in the lobby this morning. Casey's staff wouldn't say if he met with Harris (h/t Reuters' Jarrett Renshaw). Your pooler has asked Harris' staff and will circle back with an answer if we get one.

Pool has been swept at RON and is loaded into the VP's motorcade. We are headed to Philadelphia International Airport as of 1:37pm.

Quotes in the next report.

VP travel pool #4: gaggle quotes

Crowds went for several blocks around the RON.

Not much news from the gaggle.

On endorsements from former Republican Rep. Fred Upton and the mayor of Waukesha, Wis.: "This continues to be, I think, evidence of the fact that people who have been leaders in our country — regardless of their political party — understand what's at stake. And they are weighing in, courageously in many cases, in support of what we need to have, which is a president of the United States who understands the obligation to uphold the Constitution of the United States and our democracy.

On Trump not participating in another debate:

"Clearly his staff has been saying he is exhausted. And the sad part about that is he's trying to be president of the United States, probably the toughest job in the world. And he's exhausted."

Springsteen is an "American icon. I think it just shows the breadth and depth of the support that we have and also the enthusiasm."

Asked why she has stronger support with women than Trump: "Well, I have to be honest with you. It's not what I see in terms of my rallies, in terms of the interactions I'm having with people in communities and on the ground. What I'm seeing is, in equal measure, men and women talking about their concerns."

How she plans to vote on California's Prop 36 (which she has previously been asked about): "I have not voted yet and I have not yet had a chance to read through the ballot."

Q: Will construction of the Southern border wall continue?

"My highest priority is to put resources into ensuring that our border is secure." (She then talked about the border bill)

VP travel pool #5: wheels up for Atlanta

Motorcade arrived at Philadelphia International Airport at 1:53pm. VP boarded AF2 at 1:55pm.

We are wheels up for Atlanta as of 2:07pm.

VP travel pool #6: wheels down, moving to OTR location

Air Force 2 was wheels down at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport at 3:36pm. Harris descended the stairs at 3:51pm.

I didn't say earlier, but Harris is wearing bootcut jeans, tan heels, a black shirt and a tan blazer.

She was greeted by Rep. Nikema Williams, Rep. Lucy McBath and her husband, Curtis McBath, and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. Rep. McBath was wearing a shirt with the Rosie the Riveter "We Can Do It" poster that has Harris' face inserted into it (confirmed with photo pooler Erin Schaff of the NYT).

We loaded into the motorcade at 3:57pm and are heading to an OTR location at the airport. I will share more information when I'm able.

VP travel pool #7: holding at OTR

We drove approximately one minute on the tarmac to a nearby building at the airport. Pooler saw Harris get out of her car and walk into the building at 4:02pm. Pool is holding in the vans.

VP travel pool #8: radio/podcast tapings

On behalf of the Harris-Walz campaign

Vice President Harris took part in a pre-recorded interview with Willie Moore Jr. for the nationally syndicated Willie Moore Jr. radio show that will air on Friday, October 25th in the 4pm hour.

On behalf of the Harris-Walz campaign

Vice President Harris is taping an interview with Shannon Sharpe, three time Superbowl champion, for his podcast Club Shay Shay. The interview will air on Monday, October 28th

VP travel pool #9: motorcade on the move

The motorcade is rolling as of 5:25pm. We are heading to the James Hallford Stadium, where tonight's rally will be held.

VP travel pool #10: arrived at rally

After an uneventful 25-minute drive (mainly on the highway), we arrived at the James Hallford Stadium in Clarkston, Ga. at 5:50pm. Lots of onlookers and people waving as we drove down Memorial Drive. There was a small group of demonstrators protesting the genocide of the Amhara people outside the gates.

Spike Lee was speaking as we entered the stadium.

Hopefully wifi holds and I can continue sending you timely updates.

VP travel pool #11: crowd size and run of show

Crowd is about 20,000 people, per a campaign official.

On behalf of the Harris-Walz campaign:

Vice President Harris is delivering remarks at James R. Hallford Stadium for a Get Out the Vote Rally and the first of the Harris-Walz campaign's When We Vote Win concert series in Clarkston, Georgia. She is joined by former President Barack Obama and Rock legend Bruce Springsteen. This is Vice President Harris's and President Obama's first joint event for the Harris-Walz campaign.

Speakers:
Samuel L. Jackson
Spike Lee
Michael Thurmond, DeKalb County CEO
Congressman Hank Johnson
Senator Jon Ossoff
Senator Raphael Warnock
Tyler Perry

Performance:
Bruce Springsteen

Program:
Chastity Singleton, Georgia State University student and first time voter, Introducer
President Barack Obama
Vice President Kamala Harris

VP travel pool #12: The Boss

Bruce Springsteen took the stage at 6:45 and played three songs: "The Promised Land," "Land of Hope and Dreams" and "Dancing in the Dark."

Springsteen said he wants a president who respects the constitution and the rule of law, will fight for a women's right to choose and build an economy for all.

"There is only one candidate in this election who holds those principles dear: Kamala Harris. She's running to be the 47th president of the United States. Donald Trump is running to be an American tyrant. He does not understand this country, its history or what it means to be deeply American."

Thanks to Bloomberg's Josh Wingrove for help with the quote.

VP travel pool #13: Obama + Harris

Final count for rally attendance was 23,000 people, the biggest rally of this election cycle. Nearly every seat in the stands is filled.

Program went a tad out of order — Warnock spoke *after* Springsteen. Tyler Perry spoke next.

Your pooler spotted actress Natasha Rothwell at the rally.

Former President Obama took the stage at 7:29pm. It was largely the same stump speech he's been giving at other rallies. He spoke for 24 minutes.

Harris took the stage at 7:53pm. Much the same as her other stump speeches.

"I took on... predators, fraudsters and repeat offenders. I took them on, and I won. Well, Georgia, in 12 days it's Donald Trump's turn."

"We will win — or as a certain former president would say, 'Yes, we can,'" Harris said, which prompted the crowd to start chanting it back.

Some people began to leave while she was still speaking, but nearly all of the crowd stayed for her full speech.

Crowd was very enthusiastic while chanting "We're not going back."

Harris said Amber Thurman's family is here tonight and asked the crowd to "speak her name."

Some of the crowd began chanting "We will win."

Harris wrapped up her remarks at 8:19pm.

Obama came back out to work the rope line with her. Pool is holding as they do so.

VP travel pool #14: Motorcade departed rally

Apologies for the duplication in report #13, service was virtually nonexistent and I wanted to ensure you all received it.

The VP's motorcade departed the rally at 8:44pm. We are heading back to the Atlanta airport.

VP travel pool #15: Atlanta departure

We had an uneventful 23-minute motorcade ride back to the airport. Harris boarded AF2 at 9:10pm.

We are wheels up as of 9:19pm.

Next stop: Houston.

VP travel pool #16: wheels down, rolling to RON

AF2 was wheels down at Houston Hobby Airport at 10:03pm local time (one hour behind EST). Harris descended at 10:19pm.

We are rolling to RON as of 10:21pm.