Vice Presidential Pool Reports of September 10, 2024

VP out-of-town pool report #1 – Gather

Good afternoon from a sunny Philadelphia. Your pool has gathered and is loading into vans for a movement.

VP out-of-town pool report #2 – Walkthrough at National Constitution Center

Your pool departed the hotel at 1:47 pm ET and arrived at the National Constitution Center at 1:54 pm ET. Your pool did not see VPOTUS enter or exit the motorcade.

Along the way, we passed a significant crowd of the vice president’s supporters gathered along Rittenhouse Square to cheer her on for tonight’s presidential debate with former President Trump.

VPOTUS is conducting a walkthrough of the debate hall. A wide security perimeter has been set around the venue.

Your poolers are holding in the vans.

VP out-of-town pool report #3 – Return and lunch lid

VPOTUS’ motorcade began rolling back to the hotel at 2:32 pm ET and arrived at 2:39 pm ET. Once again, your pool did not spot the vice president enter or exit. Passersby lined the streets to witness the motorcade as we reached the hotel.

We have a lunch lid until 7 pm ET.

VP out-of-town pool report #4 – Gather

Your pool gathered and loaded into the motorcade at 7:25 pm ET after a security sweep.

A block perimeter around VPOTUS’ hotel is cut off to traffic, but locals have stopped along the roads to witness her departure for the presidential debate.

Your pool is currently holding in the vans.

VP out-of-town pool report #5 – Moving to the National Constitution Center

Motorcade began rolling toward the National Constitution Center at 8:10 pm ET. Your pooler did not see VPOTUS enter the motorcade.

VP out-of-town pool report #6 – Arrival the National Constitution Center

Motorcade arrived at the center at 8:16 pm ET. We’re moving.

VP out-of-town pool report #7 – Inside the debate room

The presidential debate between the vice president and former president is being hosted by ABC News and will be widely simulcast starting at 9:00 pm ET. Tune in to watch the debate in full.

A small, restricted pool has been granted access to the debate room. We are not allowed to bring laptops into the room, take any photos, or record any audio. Nevertheless, will work to document all remarks made by the candidates that are not captured on the mics. We will do so as quickly as possible, only sending off-mic quotes live when we are absolutely confident of the quote. All other quotes that we cannot confirm on the spot will be cross-referenced among the pool and sent, if confirmed, after the conclusion of the debate. Your pooler will also send any off-camera insights and color we capture in the room throughout the debate.

Your restricted pool — one print, radio, television and wire reporter each — has taken its place in the debate hall, six rows up from the stage. It’s an intimate room cast in blue lights, with graphics of the Constitution serving as a backdrop for the candidates.

Our view of the left podium, where Trump will stand, is slightly obstructed, but still visible.

More to come.

VP out-of-town pool report #8 – Debate begins

The presidential debate began at 9:00 pm ET with VPOTUS and the former president emerging on stage from separate sets of steps below the venue. The vice president walked over to Trump, introduced herself, and shook his hand.

VPOTUS is wearing a blue suit and a white blouse. Trump is wearing a red tie and a blue suit.

In front of them, out of view of the camera, a massive screen features a countdown clock to inform the candidates of how much time left they have to speak. The countdown has started.

VP out-of-town pool report #9 – Off-mic moments

Your pool has captured a handful of off-mic moments in the first third of the debate that may have been missed by viewers:

9:10 pm — When VPOTUS said the former president doesn't have a plan for you, Trump said off-mic: "That's just a soundbite. They gave her that to say."

9:14 pm – When Trump said the United States barely makes chips anymore, VPOTUS said off-mic: "Not too. That's not true."

9:16 pm – 9:17 pm — When Trump said Democrats want abortion access in the ninth month of pregnancy, VPOTUS said off-mic, separately: "C'mon," "no" and "that's not true."

More to come.

VP out-of-town pool report #10 – Additional off-mic moments

Additional off-mic comments:

9:25 pm — When Trump said he has been a leader on championing IVF treatments, VPOTUS whispered in disdain, "You have not. Come on."

9:28 pm — When Trump said people don't go to VPOTUS' rallies, off-camera, VPOTUS threw her head back in laughter.

9:29 pm — When Trump said immigrants are eating cats in Springfield Ohio, off-mic, VPOTUS started laughing and said, "What? This is unbelievable."

9:34 pm — When Trump said that crime rates are coming down around the world except in the United States, and that crime here is spiking, VPOTUS said off-mic, "not true."

9:35 pm – Trump gasped when VPOTUS
raised his criminal indictments and felony convictions.

9:39 pm – Trump said off-mic and off-camera, following up on the exchange over his allegations of political prosecutions against him: "She is the one that weaponized."

9:42 pm — When Trump accused VPOTUS of being against fracking for twelve years, she said off-mic, "that's not true." When he said she was in favor of defunding the police, she again said off-mic, "that's not true." He then told her he was speaking. "Don't lie," she replied.

More to come.

VP out-of-town pool report #11 – First commercial break

ABC has called the first of two commercial breaks.

VPOTUS turned her notes over and was the first the exit the stage. Trump followed. They did not speak.

One additional off-mic moment:

9:59 pm – When Trump accused VPOTUS of hating Israel, she said off-mic: "Come on."

VP out-of-town pool report #12 – Debate resumes

The debate resumed at 10:08 pm. Both candidates came back to the stage without looking at each other or speaking to anyone.

VP out-of-town pool report #13 – Second commercial break and additional off-mic moments

A second and final commercial break has been called.

Neither candidate spoke to one another, but Trump walked off stage. VPOTUS has remained at her podium, writing notes.

Your pool does not believe Trump has written a single note during the debate. The former president has largely kept his hands on the podium. The vice president has been comparatively expressive and has repeatedly taken notes.

Some additional off-mic moments:

10:11 pm – When the moderator, David Muir, asked Trump a second time whether he wanted Ukraine to win its war with Russia, and he did not say so, VPOTUS, off-camera, bit her lip and shook her head.

10:12 pm – After VPOTUS said Trump would abandon Ukraine and that Putin would eat Trump for lunch, Trump said off-mic: "Excuse me, I have to respond to that."

10:21 pm – VPOTUS smirked when Muir asked Trump to explain his comments about her race.

10:27 pm – In an off-mic exchange, Trump said: "She has a plan to destroy our country." VPOTUS replied, "that's not true."

10:29 pm – VPOTUS audibly laughed when Trump said he has a "concept of a plan" on healthcare.

10:34 pm – VPOTUS whispered "not true" when Trump said the United States has bled manufacturing jobs in recent months.

VP out-of-town pool report #14 – Debate resumes

As the former president returned to the stage, Harris glanced at him out of the corner of her eye before looking away. The debate restarted ten seconds later.

VP out-of-town pool report #15 – Debate ends

During her closing statement, VPOTUS said she doesn’t ask Americans if they are Republicans or Democrats, but if they are okay. Off-camera, Trump scoffed.

Trump questioned why Harris hadn’t accomplished her policy proposals during his closing remarks. VPOTUS shook her head repeatedly.

The presidential debate ended at 10:44 pm ET. The Second Gentleman greeted her on stage at the end, but Trump walked off stage alone.

VP out-of-town pool report #16 – Moving

Your pool is moving toward the motorcade.

VP out-of-town pool report #17 – Rolling

Motorcade began rolling at 11:02 pm ET.

VP out-of-town pool report #18 – Arrival at debate watch party

Motorcade arrived at the Cherry Street Pier at 11:10 pm ET, where the Harris-Walz campaign threw a debate watch party. The campaign bus is parked out front. A podium is set up at the center of the event space and Beyoncé is playing on the speakers.

Your pool is holding.

VP out-of-town pool report #19 – VPOTUS on stage

VPOTUS took the stage with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who introduced her.

"I told you she was ready," he said, to raucous applause. "You won that debate. But we haven't won anything yet."

VPOTUS began speaking at 11:24 pm ET. In brief remarks, she said it was a good night, but that tomorrow it's back to work.

"We have a lot of work to do," she said. "This is very much two visions for our country. Ours, which is a vision for the future, and his, which is about the past."

"We are going to win Pennsylvania," she said.

"Let's get out here this next 56 days. Hard work is good work. And we will win," she said. "See you later."

VPOTUS wrapped at 11:28 pm ET to a Taylor Swift song.

Pool is moving.

VP out-of-town pool report #20 – Rolling

VPOTUS’ motorcade is rolling toward the airport as of 11:33 pm ET.

VP out-of-town pool report #21 – Departure for New York

Motorcade arrived at Philadelphia International Airport at 11:47 pm. VPOTUS emerged from her vehicle at 11:49 pm with the Second Gentleman to applause from her team. She greeted them and took some photos.

"Work hard. 55 days," she said, before boarding the flight.

We're boarding and headed to New York.

VP out-of-town pool report #22 – Arrival in New York

AF2 was wheels up from Philadelphia at 12:04 am ET and wheels down at 12:29 am ET.

VP out-of-town pool report #23 – Rolling

VPOTUS and the Second Gentleman emerged from AF2 at 12:44 am ET and went straight into the motorcade without taking questions, although when asked how the debate went, the Second Gentleman gave a thumbs up.

The motorcade is rolling from La Guardia Airport for Manhattan as of 12:47 am ET.

VP out-of-town pool report #24 – RON and lid

VPOTUS' motorcade arrived at RON at 1:11 am ET and, with that, we have a lid.

Have a good evening.