Vice Presidential Pool Reports of September 27, 2024

VP Travel Pool Report #1 — FEMA briefing

On background from a White House Official:

Today, Vice President Harris received a briefing from FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell regarding the initial impacts of Hurricane Helene as well as FEMA's response. Over 1,500 federal personnel have been deployed to the region, including 930 Urban Search and Rescue workers, as well medical teams and power restoration teams.

The Administration stands ready to provide additional support as needed and remains in close touch with officials at the state and local level. The situation remains extremely dangerous and the Vice President continues to urge residents to remain vigilant and listen to the instructions of local officials.

VP Out of Town Pool Report #2 — Arrival at JBA/Mark Kelly

Good morning from a rainy, gloomy Washington. I will be your pooler for VP Harris' west coast swing, which kicks off this morning with a trip to the border in Arizona.

It is pouring as the pool tries to stay dry under the wing of AF2

VP Harris arrived via motorcade at JBA at 11:54.
She briefly chatted with Sen. Kelly and shook his hand.

She didn't take questions as she boarded AF2 at 11:55.

Per the WH, some well known greeters Joint Base Andrews. They will be traveling on AF2 with us to their, home state of AZ

-U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ)

-Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords

VP Travel Report #3 — AF 2 Wheels up

AF2 Wheels up at 12:07.

Ahead of take off, VP Harris joined the pool for an OTR chat with the reporters.

VP Travel Pool Report #4 — Wheels Down in Tucson/Visit Details

AF2 Wheels down in Tucson at 1:16 Local time.

It was a bumpy descent but otherwise smooth ride.

Sen. Mark Kelly came back for an OTR chat with the pool.

Here are some additional details about the trip.

On background from a White House official:

Today, Vice President Harris will travel to Douglas, Arizona and visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Raul H. Castro Port of Entry. There, she will receive official briefings on the operations of the port of entry and progress on disrupting the flow of fentanyl through the Southern border. The Vice President will be joined by Senator Mark Kelly and Attorney General Kris Mayes.

Additional Background on Vice President Harris' record:

• As Attorney General of California, Vice President Harris went after transnational criminal organizations that smuggled and trafficked guns, drugs, and human beings across the U.S.-Mexico border. She led a bipartisan delegation of U.S. State Attorneys General to Mexico, where they worked closely with the Attorney General of Mexico to increase intelligence sharing on gang activity, allowing the Attorneys General to prosecute more human traffickers. She also issued the first-evercomprehensive report analyzing the current state of transnational criminal organizations in California and the threats they pose to the state's public safety and economy.

• After congressional Republicans twice voted against the toughest set of bipartisan border security reforms in decades, the Biden-Harris administration announced executive action that has reduced unlawful border crossings by over 50%. Now border crossings are at the lowest level in 4 years.

o The Administration also secured funding for the most significant increase in border agents in ten years.

o President Biden and Vice President Harris also surged law enforcement personnel and technology to the Southern border and seized record amounts of fentanyl at ports of entry. Border officials stopped more illicit fentanyl at ports of entry in 2022 and 2023 than the previous five fiscal years combined.

VP Pool Report #5 — More details on todays event

On deep background from a campaign official

In her speech today, Vice President Harris will announce that as President, she would take further actions to ensure the border remains closed between ports of entry. She will say she would put in place stronger emergency authorities than those in place as a result of the Biden-Harris Administration's executive actions. Specifically, she will make it harder to lift the emergency authority by requiring that the number of average border crossings achieve a further drop - below the current level of 1,500 - before the shutdown can be lifted.

VP Travel Pool Report #6 — Tucson Arrival

VP Harris stepped off AF2 at 1:34

She did not take questions but waved to the pool as she hopped in her motorcade at 1:36.

The pool is now moving to the ospreys in 106 degree heat. We will helio to Douglas, AZ

VP Travel Pool Report #7 - Douglas arrival

After being tossed around like rag dolls on the Osprey for 45 minutes, we have landed in Douglas AZ at 2:16.

VP Harris did not take any questions as she deplaned and walked into Bieber-Douglas airport terminal. She walked alongside Sen. Kelly into the building.

The pool is now holding in the press vans
The

Douglas greeters:

-AZ Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ)

-Attorney General Kris Mayes (D-AZ)

-Douglas Mayor Donald Huish (R-AZ)

-Cochise County Sherriff Mark Dannels (R-AZ)

-Chair Ann English, District 2 County Supervisor (R-AZ)

VP Travel Pool Report #8 — Meeting

Prior to departing Douglas Municipal Airport, Vice President Harris met with Douglas Mayor Donald Huish, Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels, and County Supervisor and Chair Ann English. The Vice President was joined by Senator Mark Kelly and Attorney General Kris Mayes.

VP Travel Pool Report #9 — briefing on IDF action

On background attributed to a White House official:

The Vice President has been briefed on the IDF military action in Beirut today. She will remain updated as we continue to gather information.

VP Travel Pool Report #10 - Rolling

The motorcade is rolling at 2:49.

Also I got a couple of emails asking if VP Harris took an Osprey from Tucson to Douglas. She did in fact take an Osprey.

VP Travel Pool Report #11 — Arrival at border

The motorcade arrived at the border 3:07. A border wall is about 5 feet from where we are standing.

We drove down a desert road to get here with very little in sight. We then turned onto a dirt road and the motorcade kicked up a lot of dust.

Two women stood on the road holding Harris-Walz signs and another man stood on top of his pickup truck and videoed the motorcade with his phone.

VP Travel Pool Report 12 — Border walk

VP Harris is walking along thr sidewalk about a few feet the border wall. She is walking with two border patrol agents. They are talking softly and it' difficult to hear what they are saying. Plus we are constantly being told to move back Thea's competing noise.

Your pooler was able to confirm that this wall in Douglas was built by President Obama in 2012.

VP Travel Pool Report -#13 — /Details about wall

On background from a WH Official:
Vice President Harris made an unannounced stop at U.S.-Mexico border where she received a briefing from Customs and Border Protection officials from the Tucson Sector and Douglas Border Patrol Station. During the briefing, she viewed a border barrier constructed between 2011 and 2012 and heard directly from CBP officials on their efforts to combat traffickers and transnational criminal organizations. Douglas Border Patrol Station is in the U.S. Border Patrol's Tucson Sector, covering ~262 mi of the border.

The briefing at the U.S.-Mexico Border was conducted by:

• John Modlin, Chief Patrol Agent, Tucson Sector, U.S. Border Patrol
• Mr. Blaine Bennett, Douglas Station Border Patrol Agent in Charge (PAI

VP Travel Pool Report #14 — Rolling/number correction

After about a 10 minute walk along the border in Douglas, AZ we are back in the motorcade and rolling to our next location at 3:35.

Please note a numbering error by your pooler. The last pool should have been report #13 but I incorrectly labeled it as report #12.

That means there are two #12s and no #13. The next pool report will be #15.

Please note I skipped #13 as an error not because it's unlucky.

VP Travel Pool Report #15 — arrival

The motorcade arrived at 3;50 in Douglas at Cochise County College, where VP Harris will be briefed by border officials.

This time we drove through the town of Douglas where lots of onlookers waved and took photos of the motorcade.

There were a large number of Harris-Walz signs compared to only two signs for Trump-Vance.

VP Travel Report #16 — VP quote about wall tour

When asked what she learned from the border Patrol agents, VP Harris responded,

"They've got a tough job and they need, rightly, support to do their job. They are very dedicated. And so I'm here to talk with them about what we can continue to do to support them. And also thank them for the hard work they do."

VP Travel Pool #17 — Correction

VP Harris' meeting with officials on disrupting the flow of fentanyl through the southern border is taking place at the Raul H. Castro Port of Entry in Douglas, AZ

An earlier pool report listed the building as part of a campus, which was incorrect. Your pooler regrets the error.

VP Travel Pool Report #18 — Rolling

The motorcade is rolling at 4:27 to Cochise County College Douglas campus for VP Harris remarks.

Your pooler did not lay eyes on the VP as she the briefing on disrupting the flow of fentanyl at the Raul H. Castro Port of Entry in Douglas, AZ.

The meeting was closed press.

VP Travel Pool Report #19 - background on meeting

On background from a WH Official:

During her visit to the Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry in Douglas, AZ, Vice President received a briefing from Customs and Border Protection officials, led by Tucson Director of Field Operations Guadalupe Ramirez, Jr. The Vice President was briefed on CBP's drug enforcement operations and viewed inspection technology that aids in the seizure of illicit drugs, including fentanyl. The Vice President was joined by Senator Mark Kelly and Attorney General Kris Mayes.

The Administration is investing $500M to expand and modernize the Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry.

Under the Biden-Harris administration, funding was secured for the most significant increase in border agents in ten years, law enforcement personnel and technology surged to the Southern border, and record amounts of fentanyl at ports of entry were seized. Border officials stopped more illicit fentanyl at ports of entry in 2022 and 2023 than in the previous five fiscal years combined.

Vice President Harris has long worked to take down transnational organized crime, including during her time as Attorney General of California when she went after transnational criminal organizations that smuggled and trafficked guns, drugs, and human beings across the U.S.-Mexico border.

VP Travel Pool Report #20 — Arrival at Cochise College

The motorcade arrived at Cochise County College Douglas campus at 4:39 local time.

Again we traveled along a desert road before turning down a dirt road and kicking up dust.

Very few people along the motorcade route, less than 5. Of those, I counted 3 with pro-Harris signs and two with no signs at all just watching the motorcade.

Your pooler did not lay eyes on the VP.

VP Pool Report #21 -- Mark Kelly remarks begin

Sen Mark Kelly of AZ began speaking as the pool was bieng ushered into the auditorium at4:47 local time.

This event is taking place at the auditorium at the Cochise County College, Douglas Campus

September 27, 2024
17:03 MST

VP Harris Pool Report #22 - Select remarks

WiFi is slow and spotty here, but in I'm trying to get these out as fast as I can.

Here are some select remarks from Sen. Mark Kelly, who kicked off the event, and AZ Attorney General Chris Mays

Mark Kelly:

Since this administration took action earlier this year border crossings at lower levels than when Donald Trump left office. And when Kamala Harris is president, we will work together to secure our border, stop the deadly flow of drugs into our community and fix our broken immigration system.

Chris Mays

You what I see when I see you, I see victory in November.

She talked about fentanyl scanners.

"Thankfully the Biden-Harris administration provided funding for those scanners. Those machines are being deployed right now to prevent the flow of fentanyl into our state. That is leadership. That is saving Arizonans lives and that is what we can expect from a Harris administration."

VP Travel Pool Report #23 — Program lineup

On behalf of the Harris-Walz Campaign:

Vice President Harris is delivering remarks on border policy at Cochise College, Douglas Campus in Douglas, Arizona.

Speakers:
Douglas Mayor Donald Huish
Tori Verber Salazar, Former San Joaquin County DA
Attorney General Kris Mayes
Senator Mark Kelly

Program:
Theresa Guerrero, Mother of Fentanyl Victim Jacob Guerrero, Introducer
Vice President Harris

VP Travel Pool Report #24 - VP takes the stage

VP Harris began her remarks at 5:08 to an enthusiastic audience chanting "Kamala"

We did not get a two minute warning

VP Travel Pool Report #25 - select remarks

Some remarks from VP Harris, who wrapped up her remarks at 5:33

On Tropical Storm Helene

President Biden and I will continue to monitor the situation closely. We have mobilized 1,500 personnel to support those communities that have been impacted. We have food water and generators that are ready for deployment.

On Immigration

"We must reform our immigration system to ensure that it works in an orderly way, that is humane and makes our country stronger."

On Border patrol agents

"These men and women who work there and at other places along the southern border help keep our nation secure but they need more resources."

On immigration bill

"It was the strongest border security bill we have seen in decades. It was endorsed by the border patrol union and it should be in effect first producing results in real time for our county, but Donald Trump tanked it."

"It is my pledge to you that I will bring it back to and sign it into law."

On Trump

"These issues are highly consequential for our nation. And the contrast in this election is clear. It's a choice between common sense solutions and the same old political games. In the four years Donald Trump was president he did nothing to fix our immigration system. He did not solve the shortage of immigration judges. He did not solve the shortage of border agents.

He did not work with other governments in our hemisphere to deal with what is a regional challenge."

"He is still fanning the flames of fear and division and let me be clear that is not the work of a leader. And I think we all agree that is an abdication of leadership."

VP Travel Pool Report -#26 —Rolling

The motorcade is rolling back to Biebee-Douglas airport at 5:38.

Your pooler did not lay eyes on the VP leaving the college.

VP Travel Pool Report #27 — arrival at Bisbee-Douglas airport

The motorcade arrived at Bisbee-Douglas Airport at 5:57.

It was an uneventful ride along deserted, empty roads.

Your pooler did not lay eyes on the VP at the airport

The pool is running to the ospreys and hoping for a much smoother ride this time.

VP Pool Report #28 — Landing in Tucson

The osprey touched down at Tucson Airport at 6:32

VP Harris' limo pulled up to AF2 at 6:38 and she borded at 6:39. She was still wearing the brown jacket she wore at the boder walk.

The sun went down but it's still over 100 degrees here.

The Osprey ride was much smoother.

VP Travel Pool Report #29 — AF2 wheels up

AF2 wheels up at 6:51.

Our next stop is San Francisco

VP Travel Pool Report #30 — Wheels down

AF2 Wheels down at San Francisco International Airport at 8:29 Pacific Time

VP Travel Pool Report #31

VP Harris stepped off AF2 at 8:39 pm local time . She was wearing her jacket from earlier.

She gave a thumbs up when a reporter asked her a question about how she thought today went.

She entered the limo at 8:40

The motorcade is rolling to the RON at 8:42

VP Travel Pool Report #32 — RON arrival

The motorcade arrived at the RON at 9:09.

Your pooler did not lay eyes on the VP.

The motorcade ride was uneventful. Largely highway driving. Once we got into downtown San Francisco lots on onlookers videos not and photographing the motorcade.

Lots of people walked out bars and other hotspots to watch.

VP Travel Pool Report #33 — Lid

We have a lid at 9:11.

Good night and you're not done with me yet. I'll be back tomorrow to chronicle the San Francisco and Los Angeles swing of this trip