First Lady Pool Reports of November 2, 2024

FLOTUS Pool Report #1 - Macon, Georgia

FLOTUS made a visit to the Macon-Bibb County Democratic Committee headquarters in Macon, Georgia, on Saturday afternoon to campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris.

She was joined by Macon-Bibb County Mayor Pro Tempore Seth Clark and LJ Malone, a regional organizing director for Macon and Columbus, Georgia, with the Harris-Walz campaign. Malone and Clark opened the event with brief remarks on how Harris and the Biden administration's work has directly impacted Macon.

Clark specifically called out the American Rescue Plan, which was passed in March 2021 and provided funding to Macon for numerous public initiatives.

"Macon-Bibb County is safer, it is kinder, and it is more fair because of President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris' leadership," Clark said. "Specifically, Vice President Harris' tie-breaking vote to pass the American Rescue Plan."

Malone emphasized the importance of voter turnout in Macon, and said he has seen enormous enthusiasm among Democratic voters in the area.

"Every day, I hear voters say they are ready to turn the page," Malone said.

FLOTUS took the stage at 2:58 p.m. following Clark and Malone. She opened by reflecting on her last visit to Macon in October 2020, when former President Donald Trump was still in office.

"We were in masks, we were seated six feet apart," FLOTUS said. "The pandemic was raging, schools were closed, and with Donald Trump creating chaos at every turn, that was four years ago."

FLOTUS' highlighted Harris' promise to combat high housing and grocery costs for the middle class, which has been a major piece of the campaign's message to voters. FLOTUS said it's part of a broader plan to build "the economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down."

She also emphasized abortion rights, pitching them as an issue that many people can get behind, regardless of their religious or political views.

"No one has to abandon their faith and deeply held beliefs to agree that the government shouldn't be telling women what to do," FLOTUS said.

She closed her remarks by calling on the audience to vote and organize to carry Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, to the White House. She walked off at 3:05 p.m. to raucous applause from the assembled crowd.

"We have to work harder than we ever have before, we have to push further than we've pushed in the past," FLOTUS said. "We have to meet this moment as if our democracy is on the line, because it is."

FLOTUS did not take questions from reporters following the event.

Official list of speakers, from the Office of the First Lady:

• LJ Malone, Regional Organizing Director
• First Lady Jill Biden

Here is a link to a folder containing Macon Telegraph Katie Tucker's photos of the event. Please let me know if you have any trouble accessing them: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17yXipNkej3bEf56C6fOTzcwuJ7nhYDBv?usp=sharing

FLOTUS Pool Report 2 - Savannah canvass launch kick-off

First Lady of the U.S. Jill Biden visited the field office for the Harris Walz campaign located at 4809 Augusta Road, Garden City, Georgia on Saturday Nov. 2.

Supporters for Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz started arriving as early as an hour and a half before Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, who first took the podium, spoke. A crowd of about 50-60 supporters packed into a room on the upper floor of the field office kept their spirits high with chants of "Harris, Walz" and "Freedom."

The room was hot and many attendees fanned themselves as they awaited the FLOTUS.

When Johnson spoke, he underscored Chatham County's importance on the national election by highlighting the major political figures who have visited here since August, when Harris herself came to town at the start of her campaign. Johnson told those gathered Saturday that the election was no longer about former President Donald Trump but about all the people in the room.

He acknowledged some supporters may have election fatigue but said, "some things are worth fighting for," such as democracy, women's right to choose and LGTBQ+ rights. He also stressed that Black men do support VP Harris despite a different narrative that has taken shape on social media over recent weeks. He ended his time asking supporters to be vigilant and volunteer to connect with at least five people to get them to vote because he said Chatham County's early voter turnout was around 42% and he wants it to reach at least 50% come Tuesday.

FLOTUS arrived at the event around 4:50 p.m.

Selina Cruz, a recent University of Tampa graduate and Savannah Field Organizer for the Harris-Walz campaign introduced the FLOTUS. In Cruz's introductory remarks she said, "the energy on the ground is real."

She assured the crowd that, as president, Harris would fight for reproductive freedoms and citizen's ability to build generational wealth.

Cruz, like Johnson, emphasized the state's importance this election season. "Georgia has something to say ya'll," she said as she told supporters to "sprint to the end" and "put an end to the Donal Trump era."

The FLOTUS then began speaking at 5:08 p.m. She opened by thanking Cruz and fellow campaign organizer Carter Hamby as well and Porth Wentworth Mayor Pro Tem Gabrielle Nelson and Johnson for their efforts to get people out to vote.

She advised the crowd that there were only three more days "to elect a new generation of leaders."

She asked supporters to "remind people that character and temperament matter" by voting and canvassing for Harris. FLOTUS then spoke of Harris's background, being raised by a mother who had high expectations that ultimately shaped Harris into "the president we all deserve."

FLOTUS amped up the crowd by saying Democrats will win Georgia again because, "the other guy only cares about himself." A chorus of supporters joined her in shouting "himself."

FLOTUS ended by highlighting of Harris's promises to lower costs for average Americans and protect freedoms like women's rights. FLOTUS asked attendees to remind others when polls open people of when polls open and close in order to "meet this moment as if our democracy is on the line because it is."

She ended her remarks around 5:15 p.m. by saying, "I love you, Savannah, let's get to work."

After her speech the FLOTUS shook hands and took a few selfies with supporters before exiting to her motorcade.
FLOTUS did not take any questions from reporters following the event.

Full list of event speakers in order that they spoke, per Harris-Walz Campaign:

1. Savannah Mayor Van Johnson
2. Selina Cruz, Savannah area Field Organizer
3. First Lady Jill Biden

Additional background on the event, from the Harris-Walz Campaign:
Dr. Jill Biden traveled to Georgia the weekend before Election Day to kickoff a Harris-Walz canvass launch. Her visit promoted the Vice President's and Governor's New Way Forward plan.