Vice Presidential Pool Reports of October 17, 2024

VP travel pool report 1 - rolling

Motorcade is rolling to UW-Milwaukee as of 11:31 AM CT.

Later there will be a pool spray at the top of the Milwaukee campaign event, which is slated to start at 12:20 PM CT.

Pool did not glimpse VP entering her vehicle.

VP travel pool report 2 - UWM arrival/protestors

Pool arrived at 11:41 AM CT after an uneventful ride along Lake Michigan. Some onlookers were filming the motorcade quietly along the way.

Upon arrival at UWM, protestors gathered along both sides of the street. Protestors were yelling "free, free Palestine," "justice is our demand" and "we charge you with genocide."

Signs included:

"Bombing kids is not self defense," and one referencing "Killer Kamala."

Another sign: "VP Harris we charge you with genocide."

Pool is holding.

VP travel pool report 3 - schedule change

Campaign event with students is now closed press. No pool spray ahead of event.

VP will have a statement about the Middle East after the event with pool.

More protestor chants from UWM arrival earlier:

"40,000 people dead. You're arresting kids instead."

"Kamala, Kamala, you can't hide. We charge you with genocide."

VP travel pool report 4 - event note, waiting for statement

VP about to give a statement about the Middle East following today's UWM campaign event. Pool is waiting as of 1:09 PM CT and has not been given 2 minute warning.

From the Harris-Walz campaign on the event:

Vice President Harris stopped by a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee business class, alongside business leader Mark Cuban, where she greeted with students and discussed entrepreneurship and economic policy.

VP travel pool report 6 - Mid East remarks

VP walked to the microphones at 1:12 PM CT and started speaking. She concluded remarks at 1:15. She did not respond to shouted questions. Pool was rushed to motorcade immediately after, and protestors were still chanting outside. We're rolling at 1:23.

Some quotes from VP statement. Please check against audio/transcript:

"Today, Israel confirmed that Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, is dead, and justice has been served, and the United States, Israel and the entire world are better off as a result."

"Sinwar was responsible for the killing of thousands of innocent people, including the victims of October 7 and hostages killed in Gaza.

"He had American blood on his hands. Today, I can only hope that the families of the victims of Hamas feel a sense and measure of relief."

More TK.

VP travel pool report 7 - MKE arrival, more quotes

Motorcade rolled into the Milwaukee airport at 1:38 PM CT. Ride uneventful, apart from one crowd of cheering onlookers.

More of VP Middle East statement. Please check against audio/transcript:

"Sinwar was the mastermind of October 7, the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust, a terrorist attack that killed 1200 innocent people and included horrific sexual violence and more than 250 hostages taken into Gaza, including seven Americans living and deceased who remain in captivity. A terrorist attack that triggered a devastating war in Gaza, a war that has led to unconscionable suffering of many innocent Palestinians and greater instability throughout the Middle East. In the past year, American Special Operations and intelligence personnel have worked closely with their Israeli counterparts to locate and track Sinwar and other Hamas leaders, and I commend their work. And I will say to any terrorist who kills Americans, threatens the American people or threatens our troops or our interests, know this — we will always bring you to justice.

Israel has a right to defend itself, and the threat Hamas poses to Israel must be eliminated. Today, there is clear progress toward that goal. Hamas is decimated and its leadership is eliminated.

This moment gives us an opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza. And it must end such that Israel is secure; the hostages are released; the suffering in Gaza ends; and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self determination.

And it is time for the day after to begin — without Hamas in power. We will not give up on these goals, and I will always work to create a future of peace, dignity and security for all."

VP travel pool report 8 - airport

VP took a staff photo in front of Air Force 2 before boarding. She boarded at 1:43 PM CT with a wave to pool.

Wheels up shortly.

VP travel pool report 9 - wheels down La Crosse

Wheels up from the Milwaukee airport at 1:58 PM CT. Uneventful ride — MSNBC on in the back, no visitors to the pool.

Touched down at La Crosse Regional at 2:36 PM CT.

VP exited AF2 at 2:54 PM CT. Entered her vehicle with a wave to the pool.

Motorcade rolling as of 2:56 PM CT.

Before VP boarded, Mark Cuban seen exiting AF2, entering separate vehicle.

VP travel pool report 10 - arrival campaign event

Motorcade arrived at UW-La Crosse at 3:13 PM CT after an uneventful ride. A few onlookers seen making obscene hand gestures along the way. Others mainly filming, one holding a Harris-Walz lawn sign. One person near arrival at the campus was holding a "no ceasefire? no vote" sign.

Pool ushered into event space. As of 3:18, Cuban speaking to crowd in the indoor event space. Blue sign draped behind reads "A NEW WAY FORWARD FOR LA CROSSE." A smaller nearby sign reads "WISCONSIN VOTES EARLY."

VP travel pool report 11 - La Crosse event, waiting for VP

Cuban concluded his remarks at 3:27 PM CT. Pool hasn't spotted VP yet.

Cuban said that Trump would raise costs on Christmas gifts via tariffs on Chinese products, equating him to "the Grinch" in contrast with VP.

"There is one candidate who has an amazing program for small businesses," Cuban said. "There is one candidate who is trying to help every single entrepreneur make their American dream come true."

Cuban asked for multiple "hell yeses" from the crowd in response to questions about getting VP elected, ending with, "Is Kamala Harris going to be the next president of the United States of America?" to cheers and applause.

The event is streaming online.

Forwarding from the Harris-Walz campaign:

Vice President Harris is delivering remarks at a campaign rally at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Speakers:
-Mitch Reynolds, Mayor of La Crosse
-Rebecca Cooke, Candidate for US Congress

Program:
-Mark Cuban
-Cisco Garcia, UW-La Crosse student, Introducer
-Vice President Kamala Harris

VP travel pool report 12 - La Crosse event, VP

Cisco Garcia, a UW-La Crosse student, walked out to applause at 3:54 PM CT. His introduction concluded at 3:58, and VP walked out to roaring applause. VP asked the crowd to give a hand to Cisco.

VP began speaking at 3:59 PM CT. Her remarks concluded at 4:26 PM CT. She walked into the crowd in front of the stage to speak with people after.

Some quotes below. As always, please check against audio/transcript, as the event is viewable online.

VP said:

"So listen, we are nearing the home stretch, and this is going to be a tight race until the very end. And we got this."

"And reality check, we are the underdog, okay?"
...

She referenced going on Fox News last night and that Trump was at a Univision town hall, where a voter asked about January 6.

"It was a day of terrible violence," VP said of January 6.

"And what did Donald Trump say last night about January 6? He called it, quote, a 'day of love,'" VP said, which the crowd booed in agreement.

She said the American people are "exhausted with his gaslighting."
...

"We are not going back," she said early in her remarks.

The crowd took over briefly, chanting, "We are not going back."
...

She called Project 2025 a "detailed and dangerous blueprint."

She said the consequences of Trump becoming president "are brutally serious."
...

Toward the end of the speech: "We are not going back," VP said again.

Referencing Wisconsin's motto, she said, "we will move forward."
...

At 4:17 PM CT, VP called for a medic to respond to someone in front of the stage. Pool could not see from where the press section was.

At 4:19 PM CT, VP said, "It is my pledge to you that when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law."

To which the crowd started chanting, "Kamala."

Pool heard a handful of people in a back upper level started yelling "peace for Gaza" briefly at 4:20 PM.

...

"Let's do all of this knowing that our vote is our voice, and your voice is your power," VP said to applause at 4:26.

…

Pool is being ushered out at 4:35 PM CT.

VP travel pool report 13 - rolling to airport

Motorcade left at 4:44 PM CT for the La Crosse airport. Arrived at 4:59 PM CT. Ride uneventful.

Another moment from the event, approximately 21 minutes into her remarks after VP said: "We remember Donald Trump hand selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe v. Wade, and they did as he intended."

Some members of the crowd shouted at her in response, but pool could not hear them well from where press was stationed.

"Oh, you guys are at the wrong rally," VP responded. "No, I think you meant to go to the smaller one down the street."

Check against audio/transcript.

VP travel pool report 14 - wheels up shortly

VP took a photo with staff/drivers at 5:01 PM CT in front of Air Force 2. She boarded at 5:02 with a wave to pool.

Wheels up to Green Bay shortly.

VP travel pool report 15 - wheels down Green Bay, rolling

AF2 lifted off from La Crosse Regional at 5:20 PM CT. Uneventful ride — MSNBC on, no visitors to the pool.

Touched down in Green Bay at 5:53 PM CT.

VP disembarked AF2 at 6:08 PM CT and entered her vehicle with a wave to the pool. Motorcade rolling to rally as of 6:10 PM CT.

VP travel pool report 16 - rally arrival

Motorcade pulled into Green Bay rally site at 6:22 PM CT. Uneventful ride, though poolers note a beautiful moon on the horizon leaving the airport.

Rally is at the Resch Expo, which is adjacent to Lambeau Field.

Signs around the interior include "A NEW WAY FORWARD FOR WISCONSIN," "GREEN BAY" and "vote." Stage podium features fall colored mums and pumpkins.

Handheld signs include references such as "CHEESEHEADS" and "WISCONSIN" for "HARRIS WALZ." Also some of the camo "Harris Walz" signs, and the blue version.

Speakers haven't started as of 6:40 PM CT.

VP travel pool report 17 - rally speakers

Passing on from the Harris-Walz campaign:

Vice President Harris is delivering remarks at a campaign rally at the Resch Expo Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Speakers:

-Ben Wikler, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair

-Shannon Holsey, President of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians

-Kristin Lyerly, Candidate for US Congress

Program

-Jim Ridderbush, Green Bay resident and Vice President of the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1473, Introducer

-Vice President Kamala Harris

VP travel pool report 18 - rally remarks, airport

Rally is available online. Please check quotes against audio/transcript.

Jim Ridderbush started the rally at 6:49 PM CT.

"The bottom line, Trump's a scab," Ridderbush said toward the end of his remarks, kicking off chants of "Trump's a scab" around the venue.

VP walked out at 6:53 PM CT and began remarks shortly after. She concluded remarks at 7:22 and pool was immediately shuttled to motorcade, so pool didn't see her leave the stage. Motorcade rolling as of 7:28 PM CT. Uneventful ride, arrived at airport at 7:38 PM CT.

Rally:

VP started similarly to her La Crosse rally, including by mentioning she once lived in Wisconsin as a child.

She talked about support for tribal sovereignty, referencing a tribal leader:
"And I will say, Madam President, that I strongly believe that the relationship between tribal nations and the United States is sacred and that we must honor tribal sovereignty …"

VP continued however pool could not hear what she said exactly due to the crowd.

She vowed to be a president for all Americans, mentioning again that she appeared on Fox News yesterday and Trump's Jan. 6 comments on Univision.

She detailed her plans for an "opportunity economy."

At 7:10 PM CT, after mentioning the presidential debate and Trump's comments of "concepts of a plan," she turned away from the podium and motioned for air quotes, which led the crowd to chant "concepts of a plan."

At 7:14 PM, she rolled a clip of a compilation of Trump comments concerning abortion, ending with, "I'm the father of IVF." The crowd booed.

"The courts will take care of that," VP said after, "let's take care of November."

A protestor in front of the stage was escorted out at 7:18 PM. The protestor was shouting "free Palestine" as escorted out.

Another protestor was escorted out at 7:20 PM. Inaudible, but pooler heard "Israel."

Lastly, correcting the previous pool report number titled "rally speakers" — that should be number 17, this is 18. Apologies.

VP travel pool report 19 - wheels up

VP took a photo with staff/drivers at 7:42 PM CT in front of AF2. She boarded at 7:43 with a wave to pool.

Wheels up to Grand Rapids shortly.

VP travel pool report 20 - wheels down, rolling

Wheels up from Green Bay at 7:59 PM CT. Uneventful flight — MSNBC playing, no visitors.

Touched down at Gerald Ford International (Grand Rapids) at 9:32 PM ET. Note the time zone change.

VP disembarked at 9:43 PM ET and entered her vehicle with a wave and a "have a good night, everyone."

Motorcade is rolling to the RON as of 9:46.

VP travel pool report 21 - RON arrival, lid

Motorcade arrived at the RON at 10:05 PM ET. Ride was uneventful. Pool did not see VP leaving her vehicle.

And we have a lid.