Although Vice President Kamala Harris has traveled to Savannah a few times before, this week will be her first as the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. She and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, are expected to land in Savannah around 3:30 pm Wednesday afternoon and board their bus for a tour of southeast Georgia, followed by a rally in Savannah on Thursday.
Savannah Morning News photojournalist Richard Burkhart will be capturing it all. Follow our live blog below:
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LIVE BLOG
19:49 SPD motorcycle policeman in motorcade appears to cause accident
A Savannah Police Department motorcycle officer who was part of the motorcade appeared to have an accident. The officer was lying in the roadway, surrounded by his colleagues, and a motorcycle was located a few feet in front of him.
The cause of the accident is unknown; the accident occurred at the Veterans Parkway exit of Interstate 516. Harris and Walz arrived at the Westin Hotel on Hutchinson Island shortly afterwards, ending their bus tour on Wednesday.
7:05 p.m. Bus stops at Sandfly BBQ
Harris and Walz visited a popular Savannah-area eatery on their bus tour Wednesday. The couple was greeted with applause at Sandfly BBQ, where Harris ordered a plate of brisket with macaroni and cheese and collard greens, according to owner Keith Latture.
Walz ordered the brisket sandwich.
Many Harris-Walz supporters were spotted at the intersections of Skidaway Road and Ferguson Road, and a reporter also spotted some supporters of Donald Trump and JD Vance.
Savannah Morning News reporter Joseph Schwartzburt contributed reporting. Video courtesy of pool reporter Greg Bluestein of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Vice President Harris and Walz grill at a Savannah-area restaurant during their bus tour
Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz visited Sandfly Barbeque during a bus tour of southeast Georgia.
Pool video courtesy of Greg Bluestein, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
6:00 p.m. Harris and Walz visit Liberty County High School
Vice President Harris and Governor Walz watch the Liberty County High School band perform a fight song
Before delivering their speeches, the two Democratic candidates watched the Liberty County High School band perform the school’s fight song.
Harris and Walz stopped by Liberty County High School, where the school band played the fight song. Both addressed the group, with Harris telling the students they are the future of the country.
President Joe Biden won Liberty County in 2020 with about 61% of the vote. After we left the high school, the bus headed back to Chatham County.
16:30
A 30-vehicle motorcade carrying Harris and Walz, campaign staff, a CNN television crew including chief correspondent and anchor Dana Bash, and representatives from national, regional and local media made its way to Hinesville. Upon arrival, Harris and Walz were greeted by Congresswoman Nikema Williams, Chatham County Commission Chair Chester Ellis and Savannah Mayor Van Johnson. Harris chatted with Savannah State University students and took selfies with them before boarding the bus.
15:13
The press prepares for the arrival of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz at the National Guard Air Dominance Center for their two-day bus tour of coastal Georgia. Congresswoman Nikema Williams, who represents Georgia’s 5th Congressional District, has also arrived.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson spoke to campaign reporters before the Democratic candidates arrived. Johnson pointed out how important Georgia and the coastal region are to the Democrats’ success in the state, and noted that a vice president visiting twice in six months is unprecedented for the city.
“It requires the entire state, all 159 counties, all 535 cities to engage in various ways. We are confident Georgia is in play,” Johnson said. “We don’t win Georgia without Savannah and Coastal Georgia, especially Savannah, overperforming.”
Johnson, who attended the recent Democratic Party convention in Chicago as a delegate, described the nominees’ visit as “groundbreaking.”
“I couldn’t be happier and more proud of this community. Love is an action word, and sometimes love is presence. Her presence here sends the message that she cares not just about Democrats, but about all Georgians, Republicans and independents.”
