Vice Presidential Pool Reports of September 17, 2024

VP pool report #1: Wheels up to Philadelphia

Good morning from JBA, I'll be your pooler for today's trip to Philly.

Marine Two touched down at 12:45pm. VP Harris emerged wearing a tan suit and a dark brown bow shirt. She didn't take questions as she boarded AF2.

Harris is heading to Philadelphia for an interview with the National Association of Black Journalists.

She gaggled off the record for four
minutes before takeoff.

We are wheels up as of 12:57pm.

VP pool report #2: Landed in Philly, rolling to event

AF2 arrived at Philadelphia International Airport at 1:28pm.

VP Harris descended from the plane at 1:40pm. Greeting her was Rep. Brendan Boyle and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker.

Motorcade is rolling to the WHYY studios as of 1:44pm.

VP pool report #3: Arrived at WHYY

After an uneventful 15-minute ride, the motorcade arrived at WHYY – located across the street from the National Constitution Center – at 1:59pm. Your pooler spotted a group of students and onlookers waving and taking photos as the motorcade arrived.

VP travel pool #4: NABJ/WHYY interview beginning

Press pool held in the seated audience facing the TV studio setting until 2:24pm. There are three chairs set up facing one on the set and an audience of about 100 people in the room. About 80 additional people are in an overflow room, per the campaign (H/T Andrea Shalal of Reuters). On the lefthand side of the studio is a tv control room.

NABJ President Ken Lemon entered the room at 2:25pm and began speaking. He said this is the first time in 24 years that both the Democraict and Republican presidential nominees have spoken with NABJ.

The VP entered the room at 2:28pm.

The event is being livestreamed by WHYY, your pooler will send color. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIPXR2g8F18

VP travel pool #5: Harris called Trump

From a White House Official: Vice President Harris called former President Trump this afternoon to speak with him directly to express that she is grateful he is safe. It was a cordial and brief conversation.

VP travel pool #6: Newsy quotes - talking about Black male voters

VP Harris spoke for about five minutes when answering the first question about the economy.

Harris said "we need to resuscitate" the conversation about women who left the workforce during the pandemic because of child and elder care needs. She mentioned her own work caring from her mother while she was dying from cancer.

Harris said she's working to earn the vote of Black men and "not operate from the assumption that Black men are in anybody's pocket. Black men are like any other voting group, you gotta earn that vote. So, I'm working to earn the vote, not assuming I'm going to have it because I am Black."

From the Harris-Walz Campaign:

Vice President Harris is participating in a conversation with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) at WHYY in Philadelphia. The Vice President will be interviewed by a panel of NABJ members consisting of Eugene Daniels from Politico, Gerren Gaynor from theGrio, and Tonya Mosley from NPR.

VP travel pool #7: Israel-Hamas war

Apologies, sent pool report #7 to the wrong email.

WHYY and NPR's Tonya Monsley attempted to get the VP to answer her question about the line between aggression and defense by Israel, but the VP wouldn't allow her to refocus the discussion. The VP didn't directly answer the question when it was rephrased.

Goals Harris has: "That there be no reoccupation of Gaza, that there be no changing of the territorial lines in Gaza, that there be an ability to have security in the region for all concerned in a way that we create stability.

"We need to get this deal done and we need to get it done immediately – and that is my position and that is my policy."

VP travel pool #8: reparations for slavery

VP Harris was asked if she would take executive action to create a commission to study the history of US history and reparations.

"We need to speak truth about the generational impact of our history, in terms of the generational impact of slavery, the generational impact of redlining, of Jim Crow law."

"I think Congress ultimately will have the ability to do this work. I'm not discounting the importance of any executive action, but ultimately Congress because if you're going to talk about it in any substantial way, there will be hearings, there will be a level of public education and dialogue."

VP travel pool #9: On Springfield, Ohio

On the Springfield, Ohio conspiracy theories:

"When you have these positions, when you have that kind of microphone in front of you, you really ought to understand at a very deep level how much your words have meaning."

"When you are bestowed with a microphone that big, there is a profound responsibility that comes with that."

"It's a crying shame, literally, what's happening to those families, those children in that community."

"You say you care about law enforcement – law enforcement resources are being put into this because of these serious threats that are being issued against a community that is living a productive, good life before this happened."

VP travel pool #10: Interview ended

The audience reacted very little other than a few chuckles when Harris made a joke about not acting like a joyful warrior during the interview.

Harris spoke with Trump earlier today. "I checked on him to see if he was ok."

Harris said she has full confidence in the Secret Service protecting her and her family.

The interview ended at 3:13pm after exactly 45 minutes.

VP pool #11: motorcade rolling

Motorcade rolling as of 3:29pm.

We are headed to an off the record stop; I will share more information when I have it.

VP travel pool #12: Stop at the Community College of Philadelphia

We arrived at a local stop, the Community College of Philadelphia, at 3:33pm.

There were several onlookers on the short motorcade over, including a group of medical providers.

On behalf of the Harris-Walz Campaign:

Vice President Harris is stopping by a voter registration training at the Community College of Philadelphia hosted by the Harris-Walz campaign for National Voter Registration Day, where she will deliver brief remarks and greet with student volunteers. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker will also be in attendance.

VP travel pool #13: voter registration event

There are 13 tables of about six students each, about 80 total in the room. There are American flags scattered on the tables and a balloon display designed to look like the American flag with balloon letters spelling "vote."

Every student stood up and several were screaming and whistling when VP Harris entered the room. They appeared surprised to see VP Harris.

Harris said she loved their generation.
"You're brilliant, you care, you're impatient."

Signs on the wall behind Harris read "Shirley ran so Kamala can win," "Make a plan to vote" and "Vote like your life depends on it."

"The true strength of a leader is based on who you lift up."

Harris said her first campaign was freshman class representative. "I ran against a girl from Jersey, and she was tough, but I was from Oakland, so we were all right."

Harris finished her remarks at 3:48pm. She went to shake the hands of students and take selfies with them.

Will send more quotes from the motorcade.

VP pool #14: rolling back to airport and additional quotes

Motorcade rolling as of 4:01pm, headed back to the airport.

Lots of crowds of onlookers while we drove through the city streets.

Additional quotes from the stop:
"I think we're all born as leaders, and it's a matter of when you decide to kick it in. And you all have decided to do that at this stage of your life in such a critical way"

"Part of what's wrong and backward thinking about what we've been seeing with some folks is the suggestion that the measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you beat down, instead of what we all know – the true measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you lift up."

"So many people in my life say, 'You're the only one who leaves voicemails that I know.' But they love my voicemails because there's something about hearing another person's voice – in addition to receiving a text message."

"Thank you all for all that you are doing and that you're committing to do over these next 49 days. I know there are many other things you could be doing. Don't put aside your studies, you know shower from time to time, try to eat vegetables when you can."

VP travel pool #15: wheels up from Philly

Back at the airport at 4:15pm. VP Harris took a photo with staff.

She didn't take any questions before boarding the plane and didn't come back for another gaggle.

We are wheels up for DC as of 4:26pm.

VP travel pool #16: wheels down at JBA

AF2 was wheels down at JBA at 5:01pm. We had a bit of turbulence on the descent, but otherwise it was a smooth and short flight.

VP Harris exited the plane at 5:13pm with an umbrella and trench coat (it is raining in D.C. now). She didn't take any questions. Marine Two took off for the Naval Observatory at 5:16pm.

I will send a note with the lid once staff lets me know she has arrived.

VP travel pool #17: lid

VP Harris is back at the residence, and we have a lid as of 5:33pm.