Vice Presidential Pool Reports of September 2, 2024

VP travel pool #1 - JBA departure/no talking

VP Harris arrived via motorcade at JBA at 10:40 am.

She did not acknowledge the press and appear to be on her head set and phone. She put her finger up to her headset.

She boarded AF2 at 10:42 am.

We are wheels up for Detroit shortly. Flight time is approximately 90 minutes.

VP travel pool #2 - Detroit arrival

AF2 was wheels down Detroit at 11:58 pm. VP disembarked at 12:10 pm with a wave.

She greeted the greeters (see list below). Rep. Debbie Dingell got a hug as did Joycelyn Benson. VP then got in her SUV.

The VP came back before take-off at JBA for a short OTR with the pool.

At 12:17 pm the motorcade is rolling to a campaign stop.

On Background From A White House Official:

Upon arrival in Detroit, MI, the Vice President was greeted by Representative Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D-MI), County Executive Warren Evans (D-Wayne County, MI), and Mayor Mike Duggan (D-Detroit, MI).

VP travel pool #3 - event arrival

Motorcade arrived at Northwestern High School - also known as the Detroit Preparatory College - at 12:46 pm.

Drive was uneventful. There was one protester, a few blocks ahead of the school, holding a large sign that read "ceasefire."

As pool walked into the school, there was a woman on a megaphone further down shouting. Pool could only make out: "Democrats you can't hide." "Harris isn't welcome here."

There were a couple of Palestine flags on display. It was hard to tell how many protesters were there, but it did not look like a large amount.

Event is taking place in school gym. A lot of the guests are wearing orange T-shirts and holding blue signs that read "union strong."

Event is being aired by our friends at C-SPAN.

VP travel pool #4 - event color

Harris took the stage at 1:20 pm. She wrapped at 1:36 pm.

Crowd count was 445 per campaign.

Here are some quotes. Please check against the transcript.

"On Labor Day and every day we celebrate the dignity of work. We celebrate unions, because unions helped build America."

She noted unions demanded fair pay, better benefits and safer working conditions.
"Every person in our nation has benefited from that work. You may not be a union member but you better thank a union member."
"When unions are strong America is strong."
She talked about how her parents took her to demonstrations in a stroller.
"I learned that when we join voices, knowing that the vast majority of us have so much more empowered than what separates them."
"We know the true measure of the strength of the leaders is who you lift up."
When she started to speak of looking to the future, a man in the crowd shouted something about the next four years.

"Let’s just get through the next 64 days," Harris told him.
She noted that Donald Trump "plans to pull us to the past."
"We're not going back," the crowd shouted.
She said Trump tried to block overtime pay, block efforts to raise the minimum wage and appointed union busters to the National Labor Relations Board as president

"Trump’s a scab," the crowd yelled.

"It's always good to be in the house of labor," she told the cheering crowd. "We are out here running like the underdog in this race because we are," she said. "To speak bluntly - Michigan you know how to win." Before the VP came out the crowd shouted repeatedly "we want Kamala." Then half the gym yelled "Kama-" and the other half yelled "la." There were also shouts of "we're not going back." A union member named Tyrese spoke before the VP. He said "Let me tell you what it was like being a union member under Donald Trump." "Oh that's hell," a woman in the audience said.

VP travel pool #5 - motorcade rolling

The motorcade is rolling at 1:42 pm back to the airport.

Pool didn't see VP load.

On behalf of the Harris-Walz campaign:

Vice President Harris is delivering remarks at Northwestern High School in Detroit, Michigan.

Speakers:
Brent Booker, General President, LiUNA International
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-07)
Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI)

Program:
Tyrese West, Lead instructor for LiUNA training school, Introducer
Vice President

VP travel pool #6 - Detroit airport

Motorcade arrived at Detroit airport at 2:08 pm.

Drive was uneventful. VP took a photo with the advance team by the plane. "64 days," she told them.

Harris boarded AF2 at 2:12 pm. She didn't acknowledge a question on whether Donald Trump should've gone to Arlington cemetery.

On background from a Harris campaign official: Today in her visit to Pittsburgh, the Vice President is expected to say that U.S. Steel should remain domestically owned and operated and stress her commitment to always have the backs of American steel workers.

AF2 is wheels up shortly for Pittsburgh.

VP travel #7 - VP called Gov. Walz

From a White House official: The VP called Gov. Walz to check on him after a crash in his motorcade.

VP travel pool #8 - Pittsburgh arrival/more on Walz call

AF2 was wheels down in Pittsburgh at 3:06 pm.

On background from a White House Official: The Vice President has been briefed on the collision involving Gov. Walz’ motorcade and her staff will continue to update her throughout the day. The Vice President spoke with Gov. Walz prior to takeoff from Detroit to check on him and the staff.

AF2 is taxing. More tk...

VP travel pool #9 - motorcade rolling

VP Harris disembarked from AF2 at 3:17 pm.

Gov. Josh Shapiro was waiting at bottom of the steps and gave her a hug. Lt. Gov. Austin Davis had his young daughter Harper with him. The VP cupped Harper's cheeks and chatted with her for a few minutes.

Harris took a group photo with all the greeters.

At 3:21 pm the motorcade is rolling.

On Background From A White House Official:

Upon arrival in Pittsburgh, PA, the Vice President was greeted by Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA), Representative Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Zoe Bunnell, Spouse of Rep. Deluzio, Lt. Governor Austin Davis (D-PA), Second Lady Blayre Holmes Davis, Spouse of Lt. Gov. Davis, County Executive Sara Innamorato (D-Allegheny County, PA) and Giselle Fetterman, Spouse of Senator Fetterman.

VP travel pool #10 - arrival at event

Motorcade arrived at the IBEW local Union #5 on Hot Metal Street at 3:47 pm.

Awaiting POTUS arrival...

VP travel pool #11 - meet and greet

VPOTUS and POTUS came into an outside courtyard at 4:48 pm to greet a small group of supporters.

There are 11 tables holding six people arranged in a semi circle. The principals are walking around greeting each table and posing for pics.

There are children mixed in with parents. Many adults wearing Union t-shirts.

Gov. Josh Shapiro and Senator Bob Casey are also here.

More tk....

VP travel pool #12 - details from meet and greet

VPOTUS posed for many many pics. There are several young girls here who wanted photos with her. She called some of the smaller ones over to meet her.

She and POTUS stayed close to each other as they worked the room. They shook hands and posed for photos at each table.

It was hard to hear the small talk and both VPOTUS and POTUS were quickly surrounded at each stop.

Pooler has asked for details on who was invited to this small meet and greet.

At 5 pm the pool was pulled into the larger conference room where the speeches will take place. VPOTUS and POTUS were still working the meet and greet.

In this larger room are a lot of blue Harris Walz signs. Many people wearing green electrical workers t-shirts. Also spotted are iron worker and steel worker t-shirts.

Remarks will air on C-SPAN.

VP travel pool #13 - details on meet and greet

On behalf of the Harris-Walz Campaign:

The President and Vice President are greeting with local union members and their families at IBEW Local 9 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Joining the President and Vice President are Governor Josh Shapiro and Senator Bob Casey.

VP travel pool #14 - campaign speech color

VP Harris took the stage at 5:46 pm with POTUS. They came out to a prolonged standing ovation and cheers. They held hands in the air.

They are dressed alike: navy blue suits with light blue dress shirts.

Over 600 people are present, per the campaign. It is a loud and raucous crowd. Pool spotted people carrying plastic cups of beer. There were also giant sheet cakes - chocolate ones and white ones (both with white icing) per the cut pieces.

POTUS spoke first. VPOTUS stood behind him to his right as he spoke. The two hugged at the end of his remarks. Biden gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Please check quotes against transcript:

VPOTUS began her remarks at 6:10 pm with "thank you Joe." The crowd took up the chant.

Someone in the crowd shouted something inaudible to which the VP said: "Well the courts will handle that."

She made her announcement about American steel. "Steel is an historic American company, and it is vital for our nation to maintain strong American steel company."

More: "Steel should remain American."

More: "We know this is going to be a tight race to the very end. So let's not pay attention to those polls."

She wrapped at 6:28 pm. She and POTUS held hands and waved to the crowd.

On behalf of the Harris-Walz campaign:

Vice President Harris is delivering remarks at IBEW Local 9 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Speakers:

Lt. Governor Austin Davis
Senator Bob Casey
Governor Josh Shapiro

Program:

Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO President
Kenny Cooper, IBEW President
The President
The Vice President

VP travel pool #15 - motorcade rolling

Motorcade is rolling as of 6:43 pm.

Pool did not see VP load into motorcade. A large crowd of people was outside the union hall behind steel barriers to watch the motorcade. Cheers were heard as the top of motorcade began to roll.

It is one large POTUS/VPOTUS motorcade.

VP pool report #16 - airport arrival/greeting with POTUS

Motorcade arrived at the airport at 7:14 pm.

VP joined POTUS at AF1 in greeting local law enforcement.

POTUS then took her by the hand to led her to a group of union people. They posed for a group photo and chatted for several minutes.

VPOTUS and POTUS then embraced on the tarmac and spoken intently for a few minutes.

At 7:25 pm VPOTUS got back in her SUV and her portion of the motorcade drove around the front of AF1 to AF2, which was parked behind the presidential plane.

She posed for photos with the advance team under the wing of AF2 and then boarded at 7:30 pm. She didn't acknowledge a shouted question from the pool about Donald Trump.

Note: VPOTUS and POTUS rode back to the airport together in the Beast.

VP travel pool #17 - JBA arrival

AF2 was wheels up from Pittsburgh at 7:45 pm and landed at JBA at 8:38 pm.

Flight was uneventful. Air Force One was visible behind Air Force Two as everyone disembarked.

VP disembarked at 8:49 pm. She boarded Marine Two at 8:50 pm. It lifted off at 8:53 pm.

VP travel pool #18 - lid

VP arrived at Naval Observatory at 9:12 pm.

We have a lid.