Vice Presidential Pool Reports of October 26, 2024

VP Pool Report 1

Good morning from Houston — where the VP spent the evening post-rally. After being swept, pool was loaded into the vans at 8:45am.

The pool has not laid eyes on the VP this morning.

We are rolling towards the airport at 9:17am.

More to come…

VP Pool Report 2

Motorcade arrived at William Hobby airport after an uneventful ride at 9:40am CT (please note, all times in the pool report will be local time).

VP exited the vehicle at 9:43am. She is wearing a brown suit, black shirt, pearls and black heels. She took a photo quickly with staff, who applauded her as she exited the vehicle. She ignored shouted questions from the pool about Israel and Elon Musk and his connection , and climbed the stairs at 9:44am, turning around and waving to the pool.

VP came back and gaggled with the pool for nearly 9 minutes before departure.

Wheels up for Michigan at 10:09am.

VP Pool Report 3

After an uneventful flight minus some rough turbulence on our decent, AF2 touched down at 1:21pm.

VP exited the plane at 1:48pm. She did come over and gaggle with reporters for about 5 minutes. Will send full quotes shortly, but she addressed Israel/Iran, her visit to Texas, and todays visit to Michigan. Otter of the gaggle: https://otter.ai/u/TJU6NKZDb8hSgv1BR3HVFKsycwE

Pool is rolling as of 1:58pm.

Also — from my second pool note, I never finished my sentence, apologies. It should have said "she ignored shouted questions from the pool about Israel and Elon Musk and his connection to Putin and his support of former President Donald Trump."

VP Pool Report 4

Quotes from the VP's gaggle:

On Israel:

"A couple of hours ago, I got off of a lengthy and important conversation with the President and our national security team, and of course, we maintain the importance of supporting Israel's right to defend itself. And we are also very adamant that we must see de-escalation in the region going forward, and that will be our focus."

"We've been very clear with everyone in the region, and in fact, that's why Tony Blinken was there for several days this week, that we want to work toward ending this war. This war must end. We must get the hostages out and work toward a two state solution, and we do believe strongly that as it relates to Lebanon and the region, that part of the strength of our work is the diplomatic work we will do to reach that end."

In what the administration is hearing from Arab allies about the Israeli strikes:

"What I can say is that it is a consensus among leaders in the region, and certainly it is the strong perspective of the United States that there must be the escalation, and not an escalation of activities in that region."

On her event in Texas last night:

"In terms of Texas, it was a very good trip, as I said, the reason for being there, there were many, most importantly that there are a lot of people in Texas who have been suffering under what I call draconian laws as it relates to how they've been treating women and their right to reproductive freedom. It was also and is ground zero in terms of one of the most draconian laws in the whole country that have come about because of Donald Trump and what he did to select three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe v Wade."

On today's events in Kalamazoo where she will speak with doctors and rally with former First Lady Michelle Obama:

"I'm here now in Kalamazoo and in Michigan to talk with the folks here about their priorities around ensuring that this election produces a president united states who honors and protects a woman's right to make decisions about her own body. I'm about to go into some of the positions who are on the front lines of this issue, for addressing the harm that has resulted from these Trump abortion bans, but also doing the work in terms of advocacy with a great deal of courage to highlight to the American people, what I think, for some are really unintended consequences as a result of the undoing of Roe v Wade."

"I've been meeting with healthcare providers for the last few years, since the doctor so she came down. They are a combination of doing their work in fear of being jailed. We are seeing that, for example, medical students are now more reluctant than ever to go into reproductive healthcare fields for fear that they could be criminalized. We are seeing the impact of these laws causing clinics healthcare clinics to shut down those clinics that, yes, provide abortion care, but also perhaps breast cancer screening, HIV testing, and so the physicians that I've been talking with are concerned about this myriad of issues that have highlighted the fact that because of Trump and what he did with the Supreme Court, We are looking at a health care crisis in America which is affecting people of every background and gender."

VP Pool Report 5

Motorcade arrived at a local doctor's office in Portage, MI at 2:25 after an uneventful ride. We did see some supporters with Harris-Walz signs along the route and people filming the motorcade.

Pool did not see the VP exit her vehicle, we were taken in through the front door to a room with 6 women, some in scrubs, some in lab coats. The room looks like it is normally a check in area for patients, though the chairs have been removed to accompany the pool and some large lights to help brighten the space. The doctors are I. The middle of the room, with a counter to their right eye it's a printer, office supplies, and check in kiosks. On the left, there is a smaller counter with a sink, syringe disposal box, masks, cotton swabs, gloves, and other medical paraphernalia you would find in a doctor's office.

Two of the doctors exited the room at one point, and returned with the VP at 2:40pm. She walked down the line and introduced herself and shook hands with each of the women. She stood at the far right of the group and spoke to the women for nearly 8 and a half minutes before we were ushered out.

"One of the reasons that I wanted to visit with you all are underground. It's very, very, incredibly important, and since the Dobbs decision came down two years ago, I do believe that we as a country have faced a health care crisis, and yes, it includes the concern that we have about people's access to abortion care. Abortion care and punishing of women, criminalization of healthcare providers, but also existing clinics closed around the country that provide all types of care, from apps to breast cancer screenings, HIV testing and safe places for people to go.

One doctor said that she doesn't have to imagine living in a post-Dobbs world, they are living it.

"We're living in a world that already has abortion bans, that typically are regionally dependent here on the western side of the state, we represent not only a safety net for our region here in the Midwest, but over the last 18 months, we've seen an influx of patients that are coming, particularly from the south and the south end because of care deserts and already restrictive abortion bans. But what we're talking about here, especially with respect to this election, is that you know this better than we do, is that there's an opportunity for multiple Supreme Court decisions that we will all be living through, not just in terms of the political landscape, but as physicians who are living through that experience with our patients, and what is at stake is not just what we're doing with respect to abortion care, but what reproductive justice means at large. We're talking about access to gender affirming services. We're talking about access to contraception, and we're talking about everyone's ability to access care."

The VP asked how restrictive abortion laws in certain states is impacting where they decide to practice medicine.

"I think as medical students, we kind of found ourselves in this sort of limbo. You know, we put all this hard work and time into doing what we want to but we're supposed to be excited about that, but there is this decision to make on November 5 that has this chance to monumentally impact our careers before they even start," said one medical student. "I know for me personally, that is actually my decision on residency and applications coming up too, like I would like to be able to practice the medicine by mom practice and give health care people who need it. And then we're not just talking about a few abortion restrictions, we're talking about these very extreme bans that maybe don't even have exceptions for sleep or insects and things like that. And I am a survivor of sexual assault. I volunteer with survivors of sexual assault, and the law that I potentially in the future will not be able to provide people with the breadth of healthcare like being fired after such a dramatic event like that, it's not feeling make me sick. So I am doing all that I can to make sure that my future that I have worked for for the past 26 years looks how I want it to, and I really hope that other people are kind of joining me in that."

Pool was ushered out at 2:49pm as the VP was still speaking with the women. You pooler has inquired about getting their names. Pool is being taken back to the vans to hold.

On background from the Harris-Walz campaign:

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS WILL MEET WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AT LOCAL DOCTOR'S OFFICE IN MICHIGAN TO CONTINUE FOCUS ON REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM

Today, Saturday, October 26, Vice President Harris will start her day in Portage, Michigan, with a stop at a local doctor's office to continue her sustained focus on protecting women's reproductive freedom. She will meet with Michigan healthcare providers and medical students and discuss how Michiganders' reproductive rights are directly threatened by Trump's plans to ban abortion nationwide.

This stop follows the Vice President's 30,000-person rally in Houston, Texas - ground zero of the consequences of extreme abortion bans - where she was joined by doctors, reproductive freedom storytellers, Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, and others to make clear all that is at stake in this election for reproductive freedom and the future we want for women, men, and families when it comes to making their own healthcare decisions. Last night, we heard directly from the women and men who have felt the devastating impact of Trump Abortion Bans. More than 1 in 3 Americans now live under a Trump Abortion Ban.

Today, the Vice President will spotlight how those bans could become a reality nationwide with another Trump presidency - including right here in Michigan.

Following the stop at the doctor's office, the Vice President will head to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she will join First Lady Michelle Obama for a Get Out the Vote Rally on the first day of statewide early voting in Michigan. The Vice President and First Lady will speak at approximately 5pm ET and will be joined by Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Senator Gary Peters, other local Michigan leaders, and DJ D-Nice.

With just 10 days until election day the Harris-Walz campaign team in Michigan is sprinting through the final stretch with an aggressive operation in place to get voters to the polls early, with over 375 staff across the state and 52 offices, including 12 in Western Michigan and over 140,000 new volunteer sign ups statewide since late July.

VP Pool Report 6

Passing along from the campaign:

On behalf of the Harris-Walz campaign

Vice President Harris is stopping by the Offices of Dr. Rockelle Rogers and Dr. Amanda Henry in Portage, MI, to meet with Michigan reproductive health care providers and medical students about reproductive healthcare.

Still waiting on a list of names for the group.

While we are holding, the VP is conducting her interview with CBS's Norah O'Donnell at the office. The first portion of the interview is schedule to air tomorrow on CBS Sunday Morning at 9am ET, with more of the interview set to air on Face the Nation, CBS Mornings and CBS Evening News on Monday.

VP Pool Report 7

Passing along names of the women the VP spoke with. In order from right to left as the appear in the attached photo:

• Dr. Amanda Henry, Primary Care Physician
• Dr. Rockelle Rogers, Primary Care Physician
• Dr. Charita Roque, Obstetrician and Gynecologist
• Emily Hinners, Third Year Medical Student, Western Michigan University
  - Alejandra Solis, Third Year Medical Student, Western Michigan University
  - Dr. Lakshmi Sundaresan, Family Medicine Physician

Also sharing an otter of the convo with the doctors - please check quotes I sent in pool report 5 against the audio: https://otter.ai/u/1Ub6kA_pk1QBvcvbgw2XnnHjA4w

VP Pool Report 8

Motorcade is rolling at 4:07pm, towards the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo. We did not see the Vice President enter her vehicle.

Supporters stood on the corner down the street from the doctor's office waving Harris-Walz signs as the motorcade passed.

VP Pool Report 9

Motorcade rolled up to the venue around 4:19pm. We did not see the VP exit the vehicle. Pool was taken into the overflow room, which is normally an ice skating rink. The floor is covered with wood, and there is a stage with a stool or small table with a glass of water on it and a large video screen on one side that says "When We Vote We Win." A couple hundred people are seated in seats behind the rink's plexiglass, while a couple hundred more are on the floor. Support is a wee wearin Harris-Walz tee shirts and the camo hats. Your pooler spotted one woman wearing "Kamalazoo" in reference to Kalamazoo and the VP. One man is holding a sign that reads "Traitor Trump, Prisoner not President."

Music from the Vice President's normal rally playlist is playing overhead while supporters wait for the VP's arrival.

VP Pool Report 10

The Vice President and former First Lady Michelle Obama walked into the overflow room at 4:37pm to deafening shrieks and screams from the crowd. It was very difficult to hear Mrs. Obama and the VP because it was so loud.

We didn't want to just leave you in overflow, said Mrs. Obama.

We got 10 days to go, and what I love about everyone here is they love hard work, said the VP.

"It's going to be close," said the VP. "We are going to win."

The pair were in the overflow room for about 5 mins before leaving at 4:42pm.

Pool was moved out of the overflow room at 4:43pm and taken down the hall a short ways to a bigger hockey rink. The backdrop of the stage here is a large American flag hanging down. The banners on the side of the stage entrance says "when we vote we win." Today is the first day of early voting statewide in Michigan.

The crowd is waving American flags and waving signs - they are wearing flashing wristbands.

Intro speaker introduced Mrs. Obama at 4:52pm.

Quotes to come.

VP Pool Report 11

Rally is streaming here: https://x.com/kamalahq/status/1850276591584370916?s=46&t=_mFx8B3ksZ-DYY9F8MUZkw

Some quotes from Mrs. Obama:

"Hellos Kalamazoo! Or should I say Kamalazoo?" said Mrs. Obama to begin her remarks.

"We need all of you, because right now you know this race is close — too close for liking."

Obama said that she was taking her own advice and hitting the campaign trail to "DO SOMETHING" about it."

"No one could have predicted everything would have unfolded this summer" said Obama about how Harris became the nominee. Obama said Harris was prepared to meet the moment "she's met it every day since."

"Kamala is putting herself out there fearlessly."

"She's seeking out Republicans to find common ground."

"She's showing us what a sane stable leader looks like."

Says Harris is "a grown up," which got a cheer from the crowd. "And lord knows we need grown ups in the White House."

Says Harris is the "only candidate in this race" who has outline policies.

Told Michiganders not to "buy into the lies" that it's unclear who Kamala Harris is.

"She's an extraordinary human being, she's an extraordinary candidate, and she will be an extraordinary president of the United States of America."

"So Michigan with all of that being said I've got to ask myself why this race is even close," questioned Obama. "By every measure she has demonstrated she's ready."

"This is a big country, and that's what all my hope about Kamala is also accompanied by some genuine fear. Fear for our country, fear for our children, fear for what is coming this way if we forget the stakes in this election."

Obama tells the crowd "you know I hate politics," but that the genuine fear she feels about the race being so close is why she's here today.

"When you lay out the options, the choice isn't even close."

Obama said Harris is being held to a standard that her opponent is not being held to. An attendee sitting behind the pool shouted "gender based nonsense!"

"Let us not forget how badly that worked out for all of us," said Obama of how Trump was elected the first time because people "rolled the dice" and figured he couldn't really be that bad.

Obama talked about Trump's handling of the pandemic, saying there was really cost for American people, from lives lost to jobs lost. "All of this occurred with Trump in charge."

"When the American people fired him from a job that was too big for him to begin with, he tried to steal it," said Obama of January 6th.

She also pointed out that Trump's former staff have been speaking out against Trump. "they are saying 'no thank you.'

"I hope you'll forgive me if I'm a little frustrated that some of us are choosing to ignore trumps gross incompetence while asking Kamala to dazzle us at every turn."

Obama said people are picking apart Harris' answers to interviews that Trump doesn't participate in.

She said in any other profession or arena Trump's criminal record and moral character would be embarrassing, shameful and disqualified.

Obama said "if your a mother who has lost sleep worrying your son could be a victim of a nightmarish traffic stop gone bad, If you've ever been out there marching and weeping for justice, who do you think is going to have your back?"

KAMALA chanted the crowd.

On reproductive rights: "There is so much that gets lost in the conversation about women's reproductive rights, and I want the men in the arena to bear with me on this, because there's more at stake than just protecting a woman's choice to give birth, right?"

"We've been taught instead to feel shame and to hide how our bodies work. Some young girls in puberty not knowing what to expect, too many of us suffer with severe cramps and gone here for days on end every single month, and then on the other end of the reproductive timeline, too many women my age have no idea what's going on with our bodies as we battle through menopause."

"Look, I don't expect any man to fully grasp how vulnerable this makes us feel to understand the complexities of our reproductive health experiences. In all honesty, most of us as women don't fully understand the breadth and depth of our own reproductive bodies because our experiences are often neglected by science. There's a huge disparity in research funding for women's health, and if you have a look like me and report pain, you're more likely to be ignored by your own doctor. So women, take a minute to help folks, especially the men in our lives, to get a better sense of what could happen if we keep dismantling parts of our reproductive care system, piece by piece, as Trump intends to do, I want folks who understand the chilling effect, not just on critical abortion care, but on the entirety of women's health. All of them, there are good reasons why so many women in physicians are horrified by what's happened since Donald Trump's justices overturn Roe v Wade."

"We will see more doctors hesitating or shying away from providing life saving treatments because they are worried about being arrested, more medical students reconsidering even pursuing Women's Health at all. More OB-GYN clinics without enough doctors to meet demand, closing their doors, leaving untold numbers of women in communities throughout this country without a place to go for basic gynecological care, which in turn will leave millions of us at risk of undiagnosed medical issues like cervical and uterine cancers. This is real."

"To the men who love us, let me just try to paint a picture of what it will feel like if America, the wealthiest nation on Earth, keeps revoking basic care from its women, and how it will affect every single woman in your life. Your girlfriend could be the one in legal jeopardy…your wife, or mother could be the ones at higher risk of dying from undiagnosed cervical cancer because they have no access to regular gynecological care."

"I don't want to be a downer y'all, but in many cases there is no warning, and things go bad very quickly, and when it happens, every second of hesitation or delay can lead to devastating outcomes. So I am asking you guys from my core to take our lives seriously, please."

Obama said that "a vote for [Trump] is a vote against us."

"Fellas, before you cast your vote, ask yourselves what side of history do you want to be on?"

"It is reasonable to be frustrated, we all know we have a lot more work to do in this country. But to anyone out there thinking about sitting out this election or voting for Donald Trump, for a third party candidate in protest because you're fed up, let me warn you, your rage does not exist in vacuum," warned Obama. "Your wife, your daughter, your mother, we as women will become collateral damage to your rage."

"We are more than baby-making vessels."

Obama reminded women that live in households where men "don't listen to you or value your opinion," just remember your vote is private. "You get to use your judge and cast your vote for yourself and the women in your life."

Said Harris will protect reproductive rights not because she's a woman, but because "she is a decent human being."

"Says Kamala Harris "will protect our freedom. She'll stand up for all of our lives. She will have our backs for the folks trying to get ahead."

"She will usher in a new generation of American leadership."

Obama got a standing ovation before she wrapped up her speech and introduced Harris at 5:33pm. Obama spoke for 40 mins.

Harris walked out to "Freedom," and the two women embraced. The waved to the roaring crowd. The base of the music was actually shaking the floor of the hockey arena. The pair hugged again before Obama walked off.

VP Pool Report 12

Harris began her speech by asking the crowd to give a big round of applause for Obama and called her an "incredible friend."

"She is a truth teller, and she motivates us to get to work, especially when the stakes are high, because as she reminds us, as my mother taught me, don't just sit around and complain about injustice."

Harris shoutouts out people in the audience, including former GOP Rep. Fred Upton, who endorsed her last week, Sen. Gary Peters, and Lieutenant Gov. Garlin Gilchrist.

Harris leaned into her standard stump speech, saying that she's prosecuted criminals of all kinds: fraudsters, repeat offenders. "I took them all on and I won."

"In 10 days, it's Donald Trump's turn!" Harris proclaimed to a deafening cheer from the crowd.

Protester interrupted Harris around 5:40pm protesting the Gaza war. Crowd drowned them out with chants of Kamala, while people covered the protester with signs and an American flag. Harris said on the topic of Gaza "we must end that war," but said that right now she is talking about 2024.

"We have to understand the opportunity we have before us to turn the page on the fear and the divisiveness that have characterized our politics for a decade. We have an opportunity to turn the page and chart a new and joyful way forward."

"In fact, independent economists, independent economists, have analyzed our plans, and found that mine will cut your costs and strengthen our economy while his will increase inflation and lead to a recession by the middle of next year."

Harris said that the American dream "it's out of reach for far too many people."

Harris said this is a fight for the future, and the fight for freedoms such as reproductive rights.

"I did an event last night in Texas, in Houston," Harris told the crowd, saying that if they watched, they have probably seen some of the stories of the women that have been impacted by abortion restrictions.

"Donald Trump still refuses to even acknowledge the pain and suffering he has caused."

"I do believe Donald Trump to be an unserious man, but the consequences of him ever being president again are brutally serious," Harris said.

Speech is still ongoing - but passing along some background from the campaign:

On behalf of the Harris-Walz campaign

Vice President Harris is at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan alongside First Lady Michelle Obama for a rally on the first day of statewide early voting in Michigan. DJ D-Nice will also be performing.

Speakers:
Claire Connolly, ONE Campaign Field Organizer
Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist
Senator Gary Peters

Program:
Halle Woodward, Freshman at Western Michigan University, Introducer
Former First Lady Michelle Obama
Vice President Kamala Harris

VP Pool Report 13

The VP wrapped up her speech at 6:05pm and Freedom blared from the speakers. Michelle Obama came back out and the two embraced again. The pair then walked down the steps to work the rope line, and Beyoncé's "You Won't Break My Soul" came on overhead.

The pair worked the rope line for about 10 minutes before your pool was ushered out. They were still taking photos and talking with people while we were being escorted out of the arena.

Some more quotes from the speech:

"So much is on the line in this election. You all look back and this is out of 2016 or 2020 the stakes are even higher, because over the last eight years, Donald Trump has become more confused, more unstable and more angry, and it is clear he has become an increasingly unhinged."

"A few months ago, the Supreme Court told the former president that he is effectively immune no matter what he does. Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails."

Harris also brought up the recent reports that Trump said he wishes his generals were more like Hitler and that he had threatened to use the military against those who do not agree with him.

"There is a huge contrast in this election."

Just imagine the Oval Office in three months. Is it Donald Trump in there stewing over his enemies list, or is it me working for you? she asked the crowd.

"Time to make your plan to vote, and you can go to IWillVote.com to get all the information you need. And if you have received your ballot in the mail, please do not wait — fill it out and return it today," said Harris.

VP Pool Report 14

At 6:33pm VP Harris walked into a McDonalds with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. They went to a table of young women who looked like they had just come from the rally. One of the girls burst into tears.

Eminem's "Lose Yourself" is playing overhead.

More tk.

VP POOL REPORT 15

PLEASE NOTE - WE DID NOT STOP AT MCDONALDS BUT NEXT TO A MCDONALDS. Your pooler regrets the error, this was a true OTR and we had no idea what building we were being brought into.

The VP and Whitmer spent time talking to patrons too far out of earshot of the pool. They took a bunch of photos as well. Whitmer reminded people to vote.

Whitmer walked up to the bar in the Track House (ACROSS FROM MCDONALDS) and ordered a beer for herself and Harris.

Asked what she was drinking, the VP laughed and said "I'm having what she's having."

Whitmer said it's a Bell's obron "made right here in Kalamazoo."

We cannot hear their convo, but the women have leaned their heads together and are talking to each other. Pool was led out at 6:43.

VP Pool Report 16

Motorcade rolling as of 6:49pm.

VP Pool Report 17

Motorcade rolled up to the plane at the Kellogg Regional Airport at 7:08pm.

The VP exited the vehicle at 7:11pm to applause from staff. She took a photo with them and then she boarded the plane.

Wheels up shortly for Philadelphia.

VP Pool Report 18

AF2 was wheels up from Kalamazoo at 7:25pm and wheels down in Philadelphia at 8:40pm.

VP disembarked the plane at 8:53pm wearing a long black coat. She waved to the pool and got in the car. Motorcade rolling at 8:55pm

VP Pool Report 19

Pool dropped the VP off at RON at 9:12pm.

People gathered along the sides of the road throughout the city watching the motorcade roll by. Pool is now heading towards our own hotel and will advise when there is a lid.

VP Pool Report 20

We have a lid as of 9:21.