Vice Presidential Pool Reports of May 8, 2024

VP POOL #1 - JBA arrival/departure-wheels up

Good Morning!

I'm your VP editorial pooler for the day. I'll try to save your inbox with only big movements and news.

VP arrived at JBA at:: 12:14.

She disembarked wearing an all-black pant suit with black pumps. She paused to greet a service-agent family (appears to be husband, wife, three boys and a girl--vp office said they'd provide more details shortly ). Hugging the wife before walking to board AF2.

Waving to the press as she hit the stairs.

Boarding at 1221

She came back to say hello and chat briefly with the press in an OTR

Wheels up to PHL at:: 12:37.

Public schedule below

At 12:15 PM ET, the Vice President will depart Washington, DC en route to Philadelphia PA. This departure from Joint Base Andrews will be pooled press.

At 1:00 PM ET, the Vice President will arrive in Philadelphia, PA . This arrival at Philadelphia International Airport will be pooled press and open to pre-credentialed media.

At 2:30 PM ET, the Vice President will participate in a campaign event that is pooled press and open to pre-credentialed media.

At 5:05 PM ET, the Vice President will depart Philadelphia, PA en route to Washington, DC. This departure from Philadelphia International Airport will be pooled press.

At 5:55 PM ET, the Vice President will arrive in Washington, DC. This arrival at Joint Base Andrews will be pooled press.

At 7:00 PM ET, the Vice President will deliver remarks at the EMILY's List "We Are EMILY" National Gala in Washington, DC. This event will be pooled press and open to pre-credentialed media.

VP POOL #2 - landed/en route to location

After a super quick & uneventful flight we were Wheels down at PHL at: 1:06pm

She came down the af2 stairs at 1:16.

• PER WH: Upon arrival in Philadelphia, PA, the Vice President was greeted by Jamila Winder, Chair, Montgomery County Board of Commission and Neil Makhija, Vice Chair, Montgomery County Board of Commissioners

Chatting for a minute with the two before loading up

We are now enroute to location at 1:19

OTR ON THE FAMILY she greeted on tarmac at Andrews : service agent who is Shifting assignee/Moving detail.

Background from the campaign release on todays event below

VP POOL #3–arrival

At 200pm --After a roughly 40 minute drive through neighborhoods--we arrived at the Hafter Student Community Center at Salus university.

Drive mostly uneventful. Saw folks peering out from their home doorways and through windows taping on their phones etc. standing next to their cars as the motorcade weaves through the neighborhood streets.

While I did not spot. The intrepid CBS cam spotted about 15-20 protestors with Pro-Israel signs.

Inside the location the event was already underway. The stage donned in blue drapes and a "Reproductive Freedom" sign.

We are about 20 minutes from the VP convo with Sheryl Lee Ralph.

More background on speakers and audience expected from WH. I have some still snaps. Inside. If you want let me know.

VP POOL #4–Remarks

(PLEASE CHECK QUOTES TO TRANSCRIPT/https://otter.ai/u/BxiLz1dGaFHQdwSREh3J2CTRKAQ)

VP shared some stories she has in the past--how she chose to go into crimes against women, etc.

She also highlighted her trip to an abortion clinic, spoke about the connection between postpartum care, maternal mortality and abortion.

And how reproductive freedom dovetails into other freedoms --and how the US is seen globally.

The Vice President, took the stage at 2:32--following the introduction of Sheryl Lee Ralph. Wrapped at 3:09 before taking a group selfie and then working the rope line.

Karen Plouch (sp?) did the introductions. Beginning at 227 with the story that of how she needed IVF to have children but resulted in in an unviable pregnancy. And had a procedure to remove it. She's now expecting her rainbow baby in June.

"None of this would have been possible without access to reproductive medicine," she said and pointed to laws in other states that make it even harder for women to get fertility treatment.

Upon intro of Harris the audience was all on their feet.

Sheryl Lee Ralph highlighted how Harris is "out to connect all of us" saying she/Harris is " one of the most capable, influential, bold and fearless thinkers ever."

The VP began by thanking Karen for sharing her story.

"To share something so personal and so hurtful in terms of the experience and what it means," she said before turning to roe being overturned.

She shared the story of her best friend being molested in high school as the impetus for her career as a prosecutor.

"So at a young age, I decided I wanted to take on crimes against women and children and for the majority of my career as a prosecutor actually specialized in those kinds of things," she said. "the idea that these so called leaders ... to say to a survivor of a crime of violence to their body of violation to thereby that ... survivor of that don't have a right to make a decision about what happens to your body next."

To laughter, she highlighted her recent visit to Florida and how "so called leaders are not very clear about how a woman's body works" given the 6-week ban.

"Most women don't need to know they're pregnant at six weeks...So either they don't know, or they don't care."

She talked about her visit to the reproductive access clinic earlier this year.

"Since these laws have been passed, reproductive health clinics around the country are closing, right, and what many of us probably know, is that those clinics are the same ones that provide breast cancer screenings, contraceptive care, ... I'm so fed up with this," she said before telling the story of saying "very loudly" the word ovaries during that visit.

Sheryl Lee picked it up, echoing "we've got to have these conversations out loud. See, woman, it's not something to be ashamed of. Listen, if a man can get Viagra I need health care too."

Trust women the VP said to applause.

She paraphrased -- that it is the nature of these fights that whatever we gain will not be permanent, it's the nature.

Must be fought with each generation.

She tighter the fight for reproduction to other fights--and American values.

"My one of my fears is that in some country where some women are fighting for their right to have an education, but some autocrat is looking at them and saying will you look at what the United States don't right now? 'You be quiet'," she highlighted. "There's a lot about what we are fighting for right now as Americans that is about all that we are discussing and will have an impact on people and let that be a reminder of me many things but most importantly, I hold power with our voice."

Sheryl Lee then shared a story of how at her sons birth--she lost her amniotic fluid.

"And this doctor says to me, You have one chance right now for a viable delivery. I'm listening to this as I'm trying to deliver my child...These are the kinds of things we have got to think about," she shared. "But that was 30 years ago. I had more rights 30 years ago."

They then pivoted to maternal mortality in America and the "very sad distinction is the United States have been one of the highest rates of maternal mortality of any so called developed or wealthy country in the world."

And how "the 10 top rates of maternal mortality, they all have abortion bans".

She said she how she call all the states that didn't have adequate postpartum care. And how they've now extended postpartum care from two months to 12 months---with only three states having not done so.

She spoke about Gen Z , climate anxiety and active shooter drills.

"I love Gen Z. I mean, this is a population of young people who have the distinction of so many dishes that are on the ballot. It's a lived experience. For them The climate crisis, they've only been on the climate crisis. They've coined a term climate anxiety. Just talking with our daughter yesterday about climate anxiety. They're afraid to have children or they should even aspire to buy a home," Harris said

She was asked by Sheryl Lee what the admin has done for mothers.

Vp ticked off many admin talking point/highlights: insulin cap, prescription drug cap, maternal mortality, medical debt. "We've created over 15 million new jobs..."

She offered what she saw as a split screen of the two admins--"And I do believe the course of our country for generations will be impacted by this election."

" I think there's something really quite perverse that has happened over the last several years, which is for some people to suggest that the measure of strength is based on who you beat down instead of what we know--that the true measure of one's strength is based on who you lift," she said.

—-
My guesstimate on audience size is 200-250

Prior to VP //from the WH

Please find program participants below:
- State Senator Art Haywood (D-PA-04)
- State Representative Malcom Kenyatta (D-PA-181)
- State Senator Amanda Cappelletti (D-PA-17)
- State Senator Maria Collett (D-PA-12)
- Natalie Lennick, President, Parent Teacher Association
- Jamila Winder, Chair, Montgomery County Commission

VP POOL #5–back to airport/wheels up

Your pool loaded into the vans shortly after 330, told the VP was still doing a photo line.

We did not see her get in the motorcade.

We were headed back to PHL as of:: 4:10pm.

The handful of protestors were still at the entrance upon departure. With signs saying things such as: "Hamas using human shields is a war crime."

Arrived 447 at PHL

VP boarded AF2 at 449. Walked straight aboard

Stopping and waving at the top of the stairs.

We are wheels up at 5:02

VP POOL #6 JBA arrival/motorcade

AF2 was wheels down at— 5:33. Running about 20 min earlier from schedule.

VPOTUS Deplaned at 5:45. Saluted , waves toward the cameras and loaded in the motorcade. Press is loading in vans now. For motorcade to anthem.

Moving at 5:47

VP POOL #7–Anthem remarks/goodnight

(Check vp quotes to transcript/https://otter.ai/u/aTU0LL4Uw0T7dS0VDRWcVaYb760)

We arrived at the anthem at 605

Winding through the back/kitchen. We entered the empty ballroom as cocktail hour ensued behind us.

Folks began streaming into the ballroom around 635.

At 700 even Amanda Zurawski (featured in Biden ad/sued Texas following miscarriage) took the stage and shared her abortion story --only able to get care after near death. Crashing a second time with sepsis.

"Over and over again Donald trump brags about overturning roe v Wade. It is unthinkable that...more he says there should be punishments for women who seek abortion. Women like me," Zurawski said. "It trump returns to the WH the administration could attempt to prosecute doctors and patients..."

She says she and her husband are now trying to conceive through IVF. Shares that VP called her a couple weeks ago to offer support as she began traveling to share her story.

Harris took the stage to a standing ovation at 7:06. Giving Amanda a big hug before standing behind the podium.

In thanking folks she highlighted the board of Emily's list. Including her sister....

She began by talking about the leak of Dobbs two years ago last week.

"Most of us remember where we were when we heard the news about the news that the highest court in our land, the court of Thurgood and RBG was prepared to take a constitutional right that had been recognized from the people of America from the women of America," she said.

It was much of her similar stump.

Boos came from audience as she said the fault of the current situation is Trump.

"Former President Donald Trump did this. Donald Trump handpicked three members of the United States Supreme Court because he intended for them to overturn Roe and as he intended they did," she said before reminding the audience she questioned them during senate judiciary--saying she will quote herself--Can you think of any laws that give the government the power to make decisions about the male bodies?

Before highlighting the number of states with abortion bans now.

Telling the audience the contrast is "clear"

"Donald Trump has said the government should decide whether women can access abortion care, whereas we say the government should never been between a woman and her doctor," she said.

She contrasted the two different administration goals a bit more before calling on the attendees to use their "power to protect those rights."

She received a big applause when highlighting locations where the issue had been on the ballot.

And ended asking the audience--do we trust women...are we ready to fight for it.

Wrapping at 722.

With that. Your pool bids you adieu.