Below is a press pool report:
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Subject: FLOTUS Pool Oct. 16 — North Carolina
FLOTUS’s plane touched down at 1:35 pm. She emerged 9 minutes later under a clear Carolina blue sky and greeted five local campaign volunteers on the Tarmac near a campaign bus. FLOTUS greeted each with a hug. “You are an inspiration to all women,” volunteer Fran Lynch told FLOTUS.
The pool was restricted to a holding area about 25 feet away and FLOTUS turned her back to pool, making it difficult to hear the minute-long conversation. She made small talk about early voting and the debate. “I voted already,” FLOTUS said. No other quotes discernible.
FLOTUS then stepped inside a blue RV parked on the Tarmac to take a look at the campaign’s “Early Vote Express,” which will begin touring North Carolina Wednesday. The bus is wrapped in the Obama campaign logo and a “Vote Early” banner. It was parked in the protection of a half circle of empty UPS trailers in between the UPS and FedEx terminals at RDU Airport.
The pool reporter was not allowed in the bus, still photogs and pool camera only. Pool photog said FLOTUS looked a map of the state pinned to the bus wall as a campaign staffer explained the planned statewide tour.
FLOTUS emerged from the bus a minute later and hustled to a black SUV where she took a seat next to Valerie Jarrett.
She didn’t take any questions from the pool.
Left airport at 1:50pm. The drive to Chapel Hill was uneventful. Arrived at Carmichael gym at UNC-Chapel Hill at 2:14 pm. Speech is open press.
North Carolina in-person early voting begins Thursday and continues through Nov. 3.
