Vice Presidential Pool Reports of September 19, 2024

VP Pool Report 1

Good afternoon from Washington, D.C.!

Your pool is holding at DNC Headquarters — where the Vice President is on site. The campaign has not shared any details about this visit - but your pooler has inquired and will pass along anything we learn.

VP Staff says Harris departed her residence at 1:25pm and arrived at the DNC via motorcade at 1:36pm.

Your pooler did not see her enter the building, and we are told we won’t have eyes on her until JBA.

More tk.

VP Pool Report 2

Pool has been swept and is still holding at the DNC – but we are moving from our hold room to the vans. No further guidance on why she is here at the DNC.

Passing along some deep background information from the campaign about tonight's event in Michigan. More tk.

ON DEEP BACKGROUND:

Harris campaign advisers are anticipating some surprises at tonight's live stream event with Oprah Winfrey.

Harris campaign advisers see the Oprah Winfrey "Unite for America" live stream event tonight as a big moment to try to reach a broad cross-section of persuadable voters and they are already excited about the enthusiasm they are seeing.

• Already, nearly 200,000 people have specifically RSVP'd just to the event's online signup – that doesn't even count the number of people who will organically tune in live by watching one of the many live streams in real time.

• The event is likely to have significant reach online. It will be streamed across the YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitch accounts of Oprah and Vice President Harris, who combined bring tens of millions of followers across platforms.

• There will be a few hundred in-studio guests in the audience.

• There will be an organizing component to the event, where voices participating will encourage action from the large anticipated audience, including signing up to volunteer to make phone calls and knock doors in their communities.

The campaign believes the event may mirror, in some ways, the impact of Oprah's long-running talk show, where she commanded the attention of viewers to bring powerful stories to light that ended up sticking in the public consciousness.

This is yet another example of what campaign advisers see as a voter engagement strategy through media events that reach people where they are, in a variety of unique places.

• She is doing a mix of national media interviews (CNN and NABJ), local TV and radio interviews (Philadelphia TV, Latino radio in Arizona, Black radio in North Carolina, drive time radio that ran in markets across multiple battleground radio stations), and online digital engagements (WIRED digital video interview).

Oprah made a surprise appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live this week on National Voter Registration Day to promote the event.

The event will stream live starting at 8:00pm ET. More information can be found at https://uniteforamerica2024.com/.

VP Pool Report 3

Pool is rolling with the motorcade from the DNC towards JBA at 3:17pm.

We did not see the Vice President enter her vehicle.

VP Pool Report 4

Pool pulled up to AF2 and got out of the van at 3:36pm. VP exited her vehicle at 3:37pm. She waved to the pool and made her way up the stairs without stopping.

VP Harris was greeted on the tarmac by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who will be flying with the VP to her home state this afternoon.

This is the Vice President’s 7th trip to Michigan this year, and her 3rd since becoming the nominee (the previous trips were August 7 and September 2).

The VP did come back and speak to the pool OTR for around 7 mins before departure.

Wheels up at 3:55pm.

VP Pool Report 5

After a few minutes of turbulence following takeoff, the flight was uneventful and we landed in Detroit at 4:58pm. There were no visitors to the cabin during the flight.

The VP disembarked at 5:14pm to cheers and claps from those gathered along the tarmac. Selfies were taken and hands were shaken as she walked down the line of greeters. The kids from the Boys and Girls club were dressed in football uniforms and cheerleading uniforms. The kids were positioned in front of the press under the wing so the VP could see them as she came down the stairs. They were then moved back along the front of the plane for her to greet once she finished greeting the line of officials.

The VP shook every child’s hand - a staffer at one point told her they had to leave, but she continued to make her way through the children who were gathered.

They took a group photo and Harris said some final words that we could not hear. The group clapped and cheered. Harris took one more photo and got in the car at 5:23pm.

Motorcade rolling at 5:25pm.

A full list of greeters on the tarmac are below - but flagging one that may be of interest: Michigan Teamsters President Kevin Moore - Joint Council 43 endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket yesterday following the International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ executive board’s decision not to endorse in the presidential race.

Greeting the VP upon her arrival:

• Senator Debbie Stabenow
• Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel
• Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
• Wayne County Executive Warren Evans
• Oakland County Executive David Coulter
• Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich
• Michigan Teamsters President Kevin Moore
• Members of the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Michigan

VP Pool Report 6

After about 40 minutes on the road, the motorcade stopped in the middle of an industrial park in Farmington Hills. A google search by your pool team found that this building is known as Studio Center Michigan (Home | Studio Center), which boasts "one of the largest sound stages in the Midwest."

We did not see the VP get out of the vehicle.

Press have been told we will be holding in the vans for a bit. Will update when we know more.

VP Pool Report 7

The pool was let in to the space at 7:40pm. It is a very large sound stage and it's a big brick facade around the stage. This is being conducted "in the round," meaning the stage is in the center, with two wood chairs with cream upholstery. The screen on the far wall says "Unite for America. There is a live studio audience here. Your pooler has seen Sen Stabenow sitting in the second row, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is seated in the fifth row, and I'll note any other official, etc. in future pool notes.

Your pool is sitting in the sixth row in front of the stage.

Passing along:

On behalf of the Harris-Walz campaign:

Vice President Harris is participating in Oprah Winfrey's "Unite For America" live streaming event. The event will be live streamed across multiple platforms including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitch. The event can be viewed here: YouTube.com/@Oprah.

I will send along color and any noteworthy quotes when appropriate during the event.

Attaching a photo for reference of what the set looks like.

VP Pool Report 8

Your pool is told there are 400 people seated in the sound stage to watch tonight's program.

Oprah entered the soundstage at 7:55pm from behind your pooler. She is dressed in a monochrome orange suit ensemble.

As they played the intro to the special, people cheered throughout specific portions, such as a clip of Harris' debate performance, a shout out for Win with Black Women, Cat ladies for Kamala, and so on. The program began with a standing ovation for Oprah.

Brian Cranston, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, JLo, Tracee Ellis Ross, Julia Robert's, and Meryl Streep all appeared on the video screen to big applause as Oprah introduced them.

Cranston said in part: "Oprah, I have never felt this much joy and optimism in a campaign in a long time. So I'm just so appreciative of Kamala to be able to bring back that sense of optimism and to squash the cynicism and the and the vitriol and the rancor that just seems to be floating all around Washington."

Oprah did a Chris Rock impression that got a round of applause. "I remember writing her a check when she was district attorney — get out of a parking ticket or something," Rock joked. "I just want to — I want to bring my daughters to The White House to meet this Black woman president."

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer stood behind your pooler watching the introductory remarks for about 20 minutes. She was introduced at 8:17pm by Oprah as "a local Michigander"- "Big Gretch" to a standing ovation.

The VP has yet to take the stage.

Again - this is being streamed at YouTube.com/@Oprah

More tk.

VP Pool Report 9

The Vice President entered the soundstage at 8:24pm. She is wearing the same plum suit, a blouse with a bow, and black stilettos she has been wearing since we first saw her at JBA earlier this afternoon. She received a standing ovation as she walked out, with Beyoncé's "Freedom" playing out.

The VP is sitting on stage left, while Oprah is on stage right.

Oprah asked about what changed when she became the nominee, when President Biden decided to step aside.

"I felt a responsibility, and with that a sense of purpose."

The first question from the audience was about the border, and what she would do to strength the border.

During her answer, she reminded the audience here and at home watching that former President Trump was responsible for shutting down the bipartisan border deal earlier this year. "He preferred to run on the problem."

She said if she's elected president, she will sign that bill (Congress, I will note, would have to revive that).

More tk.

VP Pool Report 10

Rachel and Garrett - a couple from Philadelphia, asked Harris about her plan to lower the cost of living. Harris spoke about her proposals to crack down on price gouging, expand the child tax credit and to help first time homebuyers purchase a home with a $25,000 down payment assistance program. She also mentioned her proposal to expand the small business startup tax deduction to $50,000.

The VP did take a swipe at Trump - quipping "That's not a business, right? That's a concept of a business," which got a lot of laughs from the crowd.

Hadley Duvall is sitting front row, and received a standing ovation from the crowd after being introduced by a video package containing a portion of her DNC speech and an intro from Oprah herself. You can see some women wiping their eyes on the video screens surrounding the stage as she speaks. There are people wiping their eyes and putting their hands over their hearts and nodding as Hadley is speaking to Oprah and the VP.

As they show another video package about the ProPublica report about the death of Amber Nicole Thurman, people are emotional in the studio. Amber's mom, and sisters are front row, seated directly in front of the VP and Oprah, and talked about what happened to their daughter and sister and how Amber's death could have been prevented.

Harris pointed to Trump's 3 appointments of Supreme Court Justices as to why Dobbs was overturned (a frequent line in recent speeches), saying they criminalized health care providers - and that in a couple of states, healthcare professionals can face serious prison time as a result of abortion rights being returned to the states.

"Is she on deaths door before you actually decide to give her help?" asked Harris rhetorically.

A woman was holding a pink sign for a bit of time as the program focused on the issue of abortion that read "we must be a nation that trusts women."

Julia Roberts appeared on the screen for a bit, as did Tracee Ellis Ross, who said she has never met the VP ("which is crazy!") - that got a big laugh.

TER: "As a 52 year old childless woman, I want to say to the people who think that a woman's worth is measured in her baby count, I mean, shout out to all the amazing mothers, but the childless women have been mothering the world and elevating culture —" the rest was unintelligible to your pool due to the cheers in the room.

People became emotional again when Oprah was talking about school shootings in this country.

Natalie, a student from Apalachee High School in Georgia, was shot twice while in math class just two weeks ago. She has a cast on her left arm, and she says she was shot along her upper arm and wrist area. She and her parents are sitting in the front row sharing their story. People are wiping away tears in the audience and on the video screen.

"What are we doing?" Questioned Natalie's mother, Marilda. "We have a job, that job is to protect our children. We have to stop it."

Natalie's father, Doug, is not a registered Democrat according to Oprah, but says it doesn't matter now. Says there needs to be some action to make schools safer.

Oprah brought up Harris saying during the debate she owns a gun.

Harris: "anyone who tries to break into my house is gonna get shot." (Laughter) "I probably should not have said that (Laughter) — my staff will deal with that later."

She said people have been presenting a false choice to suggest you're in favor of the second amendment or you're not.

She said she believes in the second amendment but also believes in an assault weapons ban.

Meryl Streep asked about what happens if Harris wins in November and Trump doesn't accept it. What happens on January 6th, 7th, 8th, and so on. She said it's something she worries about.

"We will be ready," said Harris, but said she believes January 6th and the violence was a bridge too far for many people. "It's very important that we all speak to our friends and our neighbors about misinformation and help them now see how it occurs," said Harris.

After one hour and nine minutes on stage — the VP left the stage with Oprah at her side at 9:33. She spoke to Amber Nicole Thurman's family before she exited the sound stage from what your pooler could see over the crowds head.

Pool was moved out of the soundstage and the building at 9:35pm, rolling towards the airport at 9:39pm.

VP Pool 10a - Quote Correction

Upon reviewing the audio in the vans, where it was easier to hear, this is the correct wording on the quote about the VP owning a gun:

Harris: "If someone breaks in my house, they're getting shot. [laughter] Probably should not have said that. [laughter] But my staff will deal with that later."

VP Pool Report 11

After an uneventful ride, the motorcade arrived alongside AF2 at 10:17pm.

The VP exited the vehicle at 10:19pm and waved to the pool before going up the stairs. She turned and waved one more time before she entered the plane.

Wheels up for JBA at 10:31pm

Another tidbit about tonight’s event - it was produced by Oprah’s production company, Harpo Productions. Your pooler has asked who paid for the production, but we haven’t gotten an answer back yet on that.

VP Pool Report 12

AF2 touched down at JBA at 11:36pm. She got off the plane at 11:46pm, waved to the pool, and promptly boarded Marine 2 at 11:47pm.

Marine 2 lifted at 11:51pm from JBA en route to the VP’s residence. Will message when her office notifies us of a lid.

VP Pool 13

And a lid was called at 12:07am.

Have a good night!