Pool Reports of May 10, 2024

Out of town pool report #1 / rolling

Greetings from sunny San Francisco, where we are getting ready for a triple header of fundraisers (two here and one in Seattle). Thankfully, we are in one of America’s great coffee cities, so your pooler is very well caffeinated.

Thanks to some inquiring minds, pool asked and discovered from WH that FLOTUS, who was in the area last night for a fundraiser before leaving today for Los Angeles and Phoenix, did join POTUS here last night at the RON.

We are rolling now to the landing zone to lift for the first fundraiser.

Out of town pool report #2 / Ospreys

Motorcade went though the rolling hills of San Francisco. There were plenty of onlookers, waving and taking photos. There was also a homeless person in a sleeping bag. Pool did not spot many protesters, although one woman in workout attire opened a window and screamed "Free Palestine" as the motorcade passed.

We arrived at the Marina Green Landing Zone at 11:22am and loaded Ospreys in a hurry — pausing briefly to take in a view of the Golden Gate Bridge on this clear day — and didn't see POTUS board Marine One.

Now lifting to head to our first stop.

Out of town pool report #4 / arrival

Fairly uneventful 15-minute motorcade, with onlookers and a group of waving students. Cars were stopped by police, as well as a group of half a dozen cyclists out for a ride (or, at another spot, a solo cyclist being guarded by a single police officer)

One woman stood with an Israeli flag and a sign that read, "Thank you Biden:" Less than a mile away, a group of about two dozen protesters were at an intersection with signs that read "Hands off Rafah" and "Cease fire now." And as the motorcade turned up the final road, about four people waved US and Israel flags.

We climbed up a hill, with vineyards to left and right of the driveway, and arrived at 12:23pm. Pool is moving to a holding area as POTUS does a photo line. More to come.

Out of town pool report #5 / first fundraiser remarks

Pool moved into a large room at the house, with a staging area set for POTUS that had a teleprompter, podium and small cup of water. There was a blue curtain backdrop with two American flags.

There were about 50 people seated and 30 or so standing. Pooler spotted two people wearing pins with US and Israel flags, and two others who were holding small Israel flags.

POTUS spoke for 16 minutes, focused on his record and on Trump.

"I came to see your dogs," he said at the start. "As the press can tell you I like dogs better than people sometimes."

He had a number of jokes about Trump, many of which are now familiar. ("Not everyone is feeling the enthusiasm these days. The other day this guy walked up, said I'm in real trouble, short on cash, I don't know what to do. I said Donald I can't help you.")

He had a slight twist from a line about bleach in Trump's hair and instead said he should have injected it: "Remember him saying the best thing to do is to inject a little bleach into your arm…I wish he had done it a little bit himself."

He talked about Trump's pride in "love letters from South Korean president Kim Jong Un." (presumably meaning North Korean)

He urged the audience to read Trump's interview with Time magazine. And he talked about reports that Trump asked oil executives to donate $1 billion to his campaign, doing a sign of the cross.

POTUS participated in a photo line with Rep Anna Eshoo.

We were rolling at 1:20pm, off to another fundraiser nearby.

Out of town pool report #6 / second fundraiser arrival

We had a 20-minute motorcade ride to Palo Alto for the next fundraiser. Along the way there was a group of protesters holding Palestinian flags and signs that said "Defund Israel." Shortly up the road was another group holding Israel flags.

We arrived and POTUS went to the home for the event. Pool is holding at a house next door, in a room that has two snakes in cages (named Speedy and Checkers) and a box of snacks (Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, and Milk Duds)

Out of town pool report #7 / second fundraiser remarks and departure

In Palo Alto, POTUS spoke from a fairly intimate room that was sort of a living room and kitchen combo. It had a series of couches arranged and positioned facing a small podium and teleprompter where POTUS stood. On a nearby patio there were several tables with blue placesettings. About 30 people were in the room for the remarks, which lasted about 17 minutes.

He was introduced by Marissa Mayer, one of the hosts. And nearby sat Jennifer Siebel Newsom (her husband, Gov Gavin Newsom was not in attendance). At the start POTUS looked at the two of them and talked about how their success was an inspiration: "These two ladies here in my view and I mean this sincerely are emblematic of how America is changing. They're incredibly competent and they're incredibly capable and they're changing the whole emotion of what constitutes success and what can be done."

He spoke of his efforts to promote women and diversity in his administration.

"It's important that people have someone to look to," he said, looking toward them, "You could be governor and you could be president. I'm not joking. I'm being deadly earnest. A lot's changing."

He said that 1.6 million people have donated to campaign, 97 percent under $200. He said his campaign has opened 150 offices in battleground states "and Trump has opened zero offices. And it's not just because he's on trial."

"The press doesn't want to write about it but the momentum is clearly in our favor, with polls moving toward us and away from Trump," he said.

He cited several polls but then added, "I quite frankly don't think polls mean anything today." He said it's hard to get a read on a poll, and tough for pollsters to get people to respond.

He reiterated his jokes about Trump asking for money, and that he wishes he would have injected himself with bleach.

About 15 minutes into his remarks he spotted Rep Eshoo and praised her, calling her "one of the best in the country"

"With you're help not only will I get reelected, but hopefully we will elect a Democratic house and Democratic senate and get a lot done," he said in closing.

At 2:50pm we were rolling to the airport and arrived about 15 minutes later.

POTUS got out of the car and posed for a photo with a group of officers. He didn't respond to shouts to come take questions and walked up the stairs to Air Force One.

Engines are revving up and we are soon taking off for Seattle.

Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Director of Communications
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Dennis Cheng, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Political Strategy & Outreach
Terry Wolff, Special Assistant to the President & NSC Senior Director for the Middle East & North Africa

Out of town pool report #8 / wheels down in Seattle

AF1 was wheels down in Seattle at 4:52pm, following some spectacular views of Mount Rainer and the Three Sisters Mountains along the way.

POTUS got off the plane at 5pm and was greeted by a group of elected officials who broke into applause as he appeared at the top of the steps. He first approached Gov. Jay Inslee and exchanged a few words (pool wasn’t close enough to hear what was said). He worked his way down the line, spending most time with a young girl at the end (who appears to be the daughter of county executive of King County).

As he got into the Beast there was a shouted question about his message to hostage families. He paused and looked over, but seemed to indicate he couldn’t hear the question. He then got into the car.

We are rolling as of 5:07pm.

From WH, here is the list of those greeting the President upon arrival to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport:

Governor Jay Inslee (WA)
Trudi Inslee, Spouse of Governor Jay Inslee
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07)
Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA-01)
Mayor Bruce Harrell, Seattle, WA
Joanne Harrell, Spouse of Mayor Bruce Harrell
Dow Constantine, County Executive, King County, WA, and his daughter, Sabrina
Commission Vice President, Toshiko Grace Hasegawa, Port of Seattle

Out of town report #9 / fundraiser arrival

We had a short motorcade into downtown Seattle. It was fairly uneventful on the ride, although one woman as we passed held up two middle fingers at the motorcade.

We arrived around 5:25pm at the Lotte Hotel Seattle, where the fundraiser is taking place. A group of protesters have amassed outside and are chanting "Biden, Biden you can't hide / We change you with genocide" and "The people united / will never be defeated." They had signs that read, "Hands off Rafah," "Free Palestine," and "End all US aid to Israel!"

We are in a holding room at the hotel, where protesters can be heard, and expect to be here for a bit before going in for POTUS remarks.

Out of town pool report #10 / week ahead

Passing along from the WH:

WEEK AHEAD 5/13-5/19

On Monday, the President will depart Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and return to the White House. In the afternoon, the President and the Vice President will deliver remarks at a reception celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, at the White House. The Second Gentleman will attend.

On Tuesday, the President will deliver remarks at the White House on his agenda to promote American investments and jobs.

On Wednesday, the President and the First Lady will host a dinner for Combatant Commanders.

On Saturday, the President will depart the White House en route to Atlanta, Georgia. In the afternoon, the President will participate in a campaign reception.

On Sunday, the President will deliver the commencement address at Morehouse College.

Then, the President will depart Atlanta, Georgia, en route to Detroit, Michigan. In the evening, the President will participate in a campaign event. After, the President will depart Detroit, Michigan, and return to the White House.

Out of town pool report #11 / third fundraiser remarks

For the third fundraiser of the day, POTUS was in The Sanctuary Grand Ballroom at the Lotte Hotel. It's in what was once the oldest church in downtown Seattle, a Beaux Arts-style landmark with original 1908 stained glass windows and a full-wall pipe organ.

Seems roughly 300 people, most seated but also some standing in the balcony areas. Jay Inslee introduced him, saying that "Donald Trump may have taken away a woman's right of choice in the United States but he's not taken away our choice to making sure that this incompetent, vainglorious loser never gets a foot back in the White House." He also said of Biden that "with all his decades of service, when they look back on his presidency 100 years from now, his work on climate will be his finest hour."

POTUS said of Inslee, "he ain't staying in Washington State" (it was unclear what he meant exactly — and later in his remarks said he often called Inslee for advice on tough decisions. "Jay there's no place to hide. I'm serious, you're the best in the country.")

The crowd gave POTUS a standing ovation from early on and applauded loudly.

"Please keep it down," he said. "Donald Trump is sleeping. Sleepy Don, I kinda like that."

He talked about climate policies, and he pointed to others in the crowd including former Gov. Gary Locke and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, and Inslee's wife, Trudi ("No purgatory, go straight to heaven")

"The press doesn't write about it," he said. "But numbers are clearly in our favor." But he again seemed to dismiss polls as hard to conduct, and less relevant early in the race.

"People really don't get juiced until the end of the summer, the start of the fall," he said. "But we're really optimistic."

He repeated the joke about Trump needing money, about how he should have injected bleach, and how he wrote "love letters" to Kim Jong Un. And he urged the audience to read the Time magazine interview.

Like he did at earlier events, POTUS had a teleprompter although remarks here deviated at times from how he said them earlier.

He raised his voice at one point and talked about banning assault weapons again, saying: "The idea of students going to school learning to duck and cover is just sick!"

He mentioned Trump saying people liked when he said he would be a dictator on day one. POTUS banged on the podium saying, "Well, I sure as hell didn't, and I'm going to make sure it doesn't happen." The crowd rose for a standing ovation.

"Let me ask you, are you with me?" he said at the end. "I need your help."

The crowd rose to its feet again, and POTUS began to wrap up remarks that lasted 18 minutes.

At 7pm, we left the fundraiser and had a short 3 minute ride to the RON.

Out of town pool report #12 / lid

A lid was just called, after we arrived at the RON.

We will do it again tomorrow, and many thanks to co-pooler Danny Kemp of AFP on a day with lots of movements.