Vice Presidential Pool Reports of September 13, 2024

VP pool report #1 - Departure from JBA

Hello all, I will be your print pooler today for the VP's campaign trip to Pennsylvania today.

Vice President Kamala Harris touched down at Joint Base Andrews at 12:53 pm on Marine Two.

She did not take shouted questions from the pool as she boarded Air Force Two.

Before takeoff, she came to the back of the plane to gaggle off the record for roughly five minutes.

We started rolling on the tarmac at 1:09 pm.

Next stop: Johnstown, PA

Here is some background from the Harris campaign on her stops today:

"In Johnstown, Vice President Harris will visit a local small business, meeting with the owner and local patrons, similar to her stop at Penzeys Spices in Pittsburgh last weekend. Earlier this month, the Vice President unveiled a bold plan to invest in small businesses and entrepreneurs and create a record 25 million new business applications, as part of her vision for an opportunity economy where everyone has a real chance to succeed. At the Johnstown small business, Vice President Harris will be joined by Senator John Fetterman.

In Wilkes Barre, Vice President Harris will attend a campaign rally at the McHale Center, where she will deliver remarks at approximately 6:40 PM. The Vice President will be introduced by Mary-Grace Vadalla, a local Republican nurse who lost her mom to COVID-19 and is married to a public school teacher. Other speakers include Governor Josh Shapiro and Senator Bob Casey. For months, the Harris-Walz campaign has invested in building an unprecedented campaign infrastructure to reach voters in every part of the Commonwealth, with more than 350 full-time staffers and 50 coordinated offices–from the centers of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to the collar counties -- and 16 total offices in predominantly rural counties that Trump carried by double digits in 2020."

And a rough schedule from the WH:

At 1:00 PM ET, the Vice President will depart Washington, DC en route to Johnstown, PA. This departure from Joint Base Andrews will be pooled press.

At 1:50 PM ET, the Vice President will arrive in Johnstown, PA. This arrival at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria Airport will be pooled press and open to pre-credentialed media.

At 4:20 PM ET, the Vice President will depart Johnstown, PA en route to Wilkes-Barre, PA. This departure from John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria Airport will be pooled press.

At 5:00 PM ET, the Vice President will arrive in Wilkes-Barre, PA. This arrival at Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport will be pooled press.

At 6:35 PM ET, the Vice President will deliver remarks at a campaign event. These remarks in Wilkes-Barre, PA will be pooled press and open to pre-credentialed media.

At 8:00 PM ET, the Vice President will depart Wilkes-Barre, PA en route to Washington, DC. This departure from Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport will be pooled press.

At 8:55 PM ET, the Vice President will arrive in Washington, DC. This arrival at Joint Base Andrews will be pooled press

VP Pool report #2: Arrival in Johnstown to a large crowd

AF2 landed at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria Airport in Johnstown, PA, shortly before 1:50 pm with VP Harris aboard.

A crowd of several hundred people was waiting for her in an airport hanger chanting "Ka-ma-la." Parked nearby was a Harris-Walz campaign bus with the logo "A New Way Forward" in large white letters.

The VP descended the stairs of AF2 at 1:56 pm to Beyoncé's "Freedom."

Among her greeters was Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, gray gym shorts and bright blue sneakers. Also present was the senator's wife Gisele Barreto Fetterman.

Harris then greeted her supporters at the hangar, shaking hands, exchanging words with members of the crowd and taking photos for about 15 minutes. Pool was stationed too far away to hear what was being said. The crowd chanted "we're not going back" at one point. The VP was separated from the crowd by a series of low metal barriers.

We are in the motorcade and rolling as of 2:12 pm. The campaign bus remained behind, having served its apparent purpose as a visual backdrop and prop.

Our next stop: A "local small business" where the VP will meet with the owner and patrons alongside Sen. Fetterman, according to guidance provided earlier by the Harris campaign.

On Background From A White House Official:

Upon arrival in Johnstown, PA, the Vice President was greeted by Senator John Fetterman, Gisele Fetterman, Spouse of Senator Fetterman, and Mayor Frank Janakovic.

VP Pool Report #3: Small business stop in Johnstown, PA

After a roughly 15 minute drive through thickly forested hills, the motorcade arrived at Classic Elements, a gift shop, bookstore and cafe in Johnstown, which sits in a heavily Republican area.

On a sidewalk across the street from the shop, several dozen people were waiting for the VP, some holding Trump signs and chanting "Trump" while Harris supporters shouted "We're not going back."

VP Harris chatted with the owners about their business for several minutes, complimenting them on their selection of children's book. (She is the author of a book for kids herself.) she was joined by Senator Fetterman and Gisele Fetterman.

"There are so many forces telling people that they are alone," Harris said to the owners as she stressed the importance of community gathering spots. She told the owners they were "civic leaders."

She then entered the cafe section of the store, where about two dozen patrons were gathered and she made similar comments about the importance of community and small businesses: "you've created a space that is a safe space, where people are welcome and know that they're encouraged to be with each other and feel a sense of belonging. And in the midst of so many forces that are trying to make people feel alone or divide us, I think it's really important that we are intentional about creating a safe place."

She took one question from the pool about how she was feeling about Pennsylvania.

She replied that she was "feeling very good about Pennsylvania because there are a lot of people in Pennsylvania who deserve to be seen and heard. That's why I'm here in Johnstown."

She added: "I will be continuing to travel around the state to make sure that I'm listening as much as we are talking. And ultimately I feel very strongly that you've got to earn every vote and that means spending time with folks in the communities where they live. And so that's why I'm here and we're going to be spending a lot more time in Pennsylvania."

Re previous pool report: A campaign official says there were more than 400 people at the tarmac.

We are holding in the motorcade as of 2:53 pm.

Next stop: the airport

On behalf of the Harris-Walz campaign

Vice President Kamala Harris is stopping by Classic Elements, a cafe and bookstore in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where she will greet with the owners and local patrons.

VP Pool report #4: Interview with Philly tv station

On behalf of the Harris-Walz campaign

Vice President Harris is participating in a taped interview with Brian Taff for Action News 6 ABC, a local station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The interview will air on the station's 6pm broadcast.

VP Pool Report #5: Departure from Johnstown Airport

Motorcade had an uneventful drive back from the bookstore to the airport.

VP Harris did not respond to a shouted question about the Boeing strike as she boarded AF2 at 3:36 pm. She stumbled slightly near the top of the stairs but recovered without incident and turned to smile and wave before entering the plane. Pool thought it sounded like she may have kicked a step by accident on her way up.

We are rolling on the tarmac as of 3:45 pm.

Next stop: Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport.

VP Pool Report #6: Arrival at Wilkes-Barre Airport

VP Harris landed at Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport at 5:12 pm aboard AF2.

For reasons that are for now unclear, we made tight circles above the airport for roughly 35 minutes before touching down, leaving a few poolers, including yours, feeling more than a little nauseous. Pool has asked about the cause of the delay but has not yet received an explanation.

After descending from the plane, the VP was greeted by Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, among others.

The VP is here for a campaign rally in Wilkes-Barre this evening, which will be live streamed on the campaign's social media platforms. I will send color and any news.

Motorcade was rolling to the rally venue at 5:29 pm.

Next stop: The McHale Athletic Center at Wilkes University.

VP Pool Report #7: Greeters

N.B.: Paige Cognetti is the mayor of Scranton, not Wilkes-Barre

On Background From A White House Official:

Upon arrival to Wilkes Barre, PA, the Vice President was greeted by Senator Bob Casey, Terese Casey and Mayor Paige Cognetti.

VP Pool Report #8: Rally Arrival

We arrived at the rally venue, the McHale Athletic Center at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, around 5:50 pm but did not see the VP go inside.

Several dozen people holding Trump signs were stationed a block away chanting "We Want Trump." One person with a loudspeaker criticized the "fake news" and said "CNN sucks" as the pool walked by.

By my count, more than 1,000 people are inside this small arena, which is packed.

Bob Casey just took the stage. "As we saw in the debate the other night, she is ready to take on Donald Trump and win this election," he said.

VP is scheduled to speak around 6:35 pm. Her comments will be live streamed.

VP Pool Report #9: Rally

Apologies for lack of reports from inside the arena. There was no service or WiFi.

The VP spoke for roughly 25 minutes.

She made some news with comments about removing degree requirements for some federal jobs, which is a new policy.

"As president, I will get rid of the unnecessary degree requirements for federal jobs and increase jobs for folks without a four-year degree, understanding that requiring a certain degree does not necessarily talk about one's skills."

There were at least three interruptions from the crowd. The second appeared to be over Gaza. It looked like a man was removed. The crowd chanted over the protests so I couldn't make out most of what was said but someone shouted "war criminal."

Harris replied to the interruption: "Now is the time to get a hostage deal and ceasefire and we have been working around the clock to get that done. I respect your voice but right now I am speaking."

We are rolling back to the airport at 6:51 pm.

VP Pool Report #10: Airport Departure

VP Harris boarded AF2 at Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport without taking shouted questions from the pool.

We are rolling on the tarmac at 7:23 pm bound for JBA.

Pool observed a Trump sticker on the air stairs that we used to board at the back of the plane.

Thanks to our sharp-eyed AP photographer who noticed it.

VP Pool Report #11: JBA Arrival

AF2 landed at JBA at 8:05 pm with VP Harris aboard.

She departed on M2 about 15 minutes later.

The Harris campaign has not yet released an official crowd count for the Wilkes-Barre rally.

I will send a final update when the VP arrives at her residence and her team calls a lid. Thanks to all for following along.

VP Pool Report #12: Lid

The White House called a lid at 8:35 pm

Have a good night everyone.