Vice Presidential Pool Reports of September 14, 2024

VP pool report #1 - DC fundraiser

Good afternoon — I'll be your VPOTUS pooler for her two events today, the first of which is a Harris Victory Fund event at the Washington Hilton.

VPOTUS is expected to speak around 3:15 this afternoon. Her motorcade departed the VPR at 2:26 and arrived at the Hilton at 2:35, according to staff (pool was not provided transportation and arrived earlier).

She will be meeting with event chairs and taking photos with some attendees before her remarks. According to an invite shared by one attendee, tickets started at $500 and went all the way up to $250K (photos are for anyone paying $25K and up).

Pool spotted Rep. James Clyburn and Susan Rice among a rather large crowd of people checking in and going through mags. And as pool sat in a hold outside of the ballroom, some of the opening speeches were audible through the wall. The lineup, according to the attendee: Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nevada), Common, Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-California) and Clyburn.

If the campaign sends any more details about the event, I'll pass it along.

VP pool report #2 - remarks

Pool was brought into a ballroom at the Hilton (not the massive one) at 3:22 p.m. and seated in the middle of the crowd off to the side of the stage.

VPOTUS took the stage at 3:24 in a navy suit and silk white blouse as Beyoncé's "Freedom" played at a not insane volume. She made a few off the cuff remarks to the crowd, shouting out her classmates from Howard, before turning to the teleprompter and delivering her usual stump speech.

Here is an overview of her remarks, which lasted 17 minutes (please check all quotes against transcript). Nothing especially new or newsy.

Campaign has not sent info on how many people attended but safe to say it was several hundred people, maybe closer to a thousand.

—

"Let's level set: 52 days to go…this is probably the most important election of our lifetime."

"Two very different visions for this country — a contrast that I think was very clear in the debate on Tuesday night."

On the debate: "It was the same old tired show. No plan did he offer for how he would address the needs of the American people."

"We are ready for a new generation of leadership that is optimistic about what we can do together... While Donald Trump is trying to pull our country backward, we are fighting for the future."

VP contrasted her backgrounds as "middle class kid" with Trump, who she said was "handed $400 million on a silver platter and filed bankruptcy four times."

She hit Trump on policy, mentioning Project 2025, his efforts to overturn the ACA, asking the crowd if they remembered what Trump said about his healthcare plan during the debate. They did, and she smiled back as they responded. "Concepts of a plan," she said, quoting Trump twice.

"We are not going back."

Turning to reproductive freedom, she noted Trump's role in appointing the SCOTUS justices who overturned Roe and that 21 states have "a Trump abortion ban."

She broadened the assault on freedoms to efforts to restrict voting rights, mentioning the Georgia law barring people from giving water to those waiting in line to vote: "The hypocrisy abounds. Whatever happened to love the neighbor?"

"I talked at the convention about how this is an unserious man. But the consequences of what he says and does are extraordinarily serious."

She referenced the SCOTUS decision on presidential immunity. "Imagine the meaning of that court ruling on this individual and what he is prepared to do and what he has already done. Imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails."

She referenced how Trump's former VP and numerous former cabinet and administration officials are not supporting his candidacy.

"They have warned us, the American people, that Donald Trump is not fit to be president of the United States."

"All that being said, we are not fighting against something as much as we are fighting for something. … We love our country's and I believe it is one of the highest ideals of patriotism to fight for the promise of our country."

She urged attendees to "talk to your neighbors, no matter who they voted for last time."

She wrapped at 3:42 with her usual finish: "the baton is no in our hands…and when we fight—" she said, allowing the crowd to respond "We win!"

VP pool report #3 - VPOTUS back at VPR

Pool was told VPOTUS departed the Hilton at 3:45 and is now back at the VPR. She'll be there until she departs for the gala at the convention center in a couple hours. Will check in next from there.

VP pool report #4 - CBC gala arrival

Washington, DC

VPOTUS has arrived at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Mt. Vernon for tonight's Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Phoenix Awards gala dinner, per staff. She arrived at 646 (pool just got word of this).

She will speak after POTUS tonight. Per staff, we are tracking both of their speeches to begin in the 8-830 window, although there is still no presidential seal on the lectern positioned at stage right.

There are several thousand attendees in evening wear and hundreds of round tables cover the floor inside the cavernous event hall. Pool is positioned on a large press riser across the room (200 feet) from the brightly colored stage.

Program began at 7:15. Emcees are Sherri Shepherd and Roy Wood Jr.

Keep an eye on POTUS pool notes, which may have additional information about the program and backstage activities.

More TK

VP pool report #5 - Harris remarks

After POTUS introduced her, VPOTUS took the stage at 8:50 in a head to toe sequined gown to Beyoncé's freedom and a big ovation. She stood for moment with Biden and they clasped hands and raised their arms together to loud cheers before he walked off stage.

Harris was immediately interrupted by a skee wee chant, the signature call of her AKA sorority.

She began with tributes starting with Biden, calling it "the honor of my lifetime to serve as his vice president."

"As a former CBC member, I know America relies on the leaders in this room not only for their conscience but for their vision."

Much of her remarks were her standard stump, albeit a condensed version. She vowed "we are not going back" and said that she would fight to preserve healthcare access, voting rights and reproductive rights.

"We actually have a plan for healthcare, not just 'concepts of a plan,'" she said.

"Generations or Americans before us lead the fight for freedom and for our future: I truly believe America is ready to turn the page on the politics of division and hate."

She amended her close just slightly:

"We know what we fight for and when the CBC fights, we win."

She wrapped at 9 sharp; so just a 10 minute speech.

VP pool #6 - departure

I'm told VPOTUS has departed the convention center and is headed back to the VPR. As pool is not part of her motorcade, that's a wrap for the night.

VP pool #7 - a proper lid

I'm told VPOTUS arrived at the VPR at 9:16. And that a lid was called at 9:42.