VP pool report #7 — Kansas rally

Topeka, Kansas

The VPOTUS motorcade arrived at HME Inc., a steel fabricating facility, at 5:21 pm. There was a small crowd of demonstrators near the entrance, although your pooler was not in position to make out the signs in detail.

Several hundred supporters are inside the venue, with many holding small poster-sized signs that read “Keep Your Tax Cuts,” “Keep The Majority” and “Stop Schumer.” Secretary Burgum, again opening for VPOTUS, took the stage inside the warehouse at HME, Inc. at 5:27 pm., making a few self-described dad jokes during his remarks.

VPOTUS came onto the stage at 5:40 pm, and began with a shoutout to Burgum and Kansas GOP leaders, past and present. He told the crowd that he was in America’s heartland today and while he didn’t grow up in Kansas, “I see my home.” Many of the lines and themes were repeated from his remarks in Montana earlier today, including his assertion that both parties had abandoned Americans and that it was time to restore “sovereignty” to them.

Early on in his remarks, a protester began shouting but was almost immediately drowned out by boos from the crowd and chants of “USA!”. VPOTUS said in response that Democrats’ only chance in this election is by interrupting and but that the party is selling a “fat load of bullshit.”

On GOP Sen Roger Marshall, VPOTUS credited his work on cutting taxes and bolstering border security, saying it “would be impossible to have done any of it without him.” Calling him “Doc Marshall,” VPOTUS said “this man has fought tooth and nail for your state’s families.” He recalled that during his time in the Senate, Marshall was a key partner in the response to the East Palestine train derailment, saying: “My point is that you know a man by the friends and the enemies he makes during times of crisis.”

“Roger is always on your side,” VPOTUS said, gesturing to the crowd in front of him. He announced that the Department of Agriculture was providing “millions of dollars” in new grants for 10 meatpacking facilities in Kansas and said that also could not have been done without Marshall.

He also praised GOP gubernatorial candidate Ty Masterson and urged the crowd to vote for both men.

VPOTUS closed by discussing the stakes of the election, warning that Democratic Senate candidate Adam Hamilton, a pastor, was a “career leftist” said while he doesn’t know what is in Hamilton’s heart, “the law giver in Adam Hamilton’s world, it isn’t Moses, it’s not Jesus, it’s Chuck Schumer.”

VPOTUS wrapped at 6:13 pm. We were back in motorcade promptly and we are rolling as of 6:17 pm.
Seung Min Kim
The Associated Press
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