By james art Former President Barack Obama and vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz urged Wisconsinites to elect Democrats on first day of early voting statewide during a visit to Madison on Tuesday.
A dignitary visit is coming two weeks before election day and featured appearances by prominent Wisconsin Democrats such as state Democratic Chairman Ben Wickler, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Obama, who won Wisconsin in 2008 and 2012, emphasized the crucial role Wisconsin voters will play in elections that often come down to a few votes per district.
“[Through voting] we will send the message of what America says, and together we will continue to build a country that is fairer and fairer, more equal and freer,” Obama said. “That’s our job. It is our responsibility.”
Waltz draws a contrast between Harris, “who trusts you to make decisions for yourself,” and Trump, who appointed three of the Supreme Court justices who struck down the constitutional right to abortion.
“When the stakes are highest, it’s the winners who step up, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do,” Walz said. “It takes stamina to run for president, and Donald Trump has no stamina.”
Waltz pulled no punches in his speech, mocking Trump for refusing a second debate — “when you get your ass ripped so hard, you don’t come back for seconds” — and criticizing Trump’s insincerity, noting Trump was “staging” event at McDonald’s on Sunday.
Obama acknowledged that some people may be skeptical about the value of voting, but cited the success of Affordable Care Act as a demonstration of the power of elections.
“Some people in this room saw a concrete benefit,” Obama said.
The topic of abortion rights — a constant focus of the Democratic campaign — came up several times during the rally and struck the loudest chord with the crowd.
The US Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade led to the ban on nearly all abortions in Wisconsin, with no exceptions for rape or incest. Despite abortion services resumed in September 2023, multiple speakers highlighted “Trump’s abortion bans” and said the Harris-Waltz administration would protect abortion rights.
Actor Bradley Whitford, whose father was president of Planned Parenthood of Dane County, drew fire when he spoke about abortion rights, adding that the organization was not biased.
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“Trump [is] bragging about the fact that he overturned Roe v. Wade and took away those fundamental rights,” Whitford said, drawing loud boos from the crowd.
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway told The Daily Cardinal after the rally that the ballot choice affects “fundamental rights and freedoms.”
“There is a clear choice between people who want to take us back and Kamala Harris and Tim Waltz who want to move us forward and restore our rights and dreams,” Rhodes-Conway said. “[They’ll] make sure I have more rights than my grandmother again and that any young people who come along will have more rights than me.
University of Wisconsin-Madison sophomore Declan Halloran said the energy at the Alliant Center is “even more electric and awesome” than when Harris was talking a few weeks ago.
“People are even more fired up,” Halloran told the cardinal. “It’s just cool to see people come out.”
Waltz will rally in Racine on Tuesday night after campaigning with Obama in Madison. Since joining Harris’ ticket, Walz has visited Wisconsin six times. The rally marked Obama’s sixth visit to Madison.
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Anna Klaiber is the state news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She previously worked as an art editor. Anna has written extensively on elections, legislative maps and campus news. She has interned at WisPolitics and Madison Magazine. Follow her on Twitter at @annakleiber03.
Gavin Escott is the campus news editor for the Daily Cardinal. He has covered protests, breaking news and written extensively on politics and higher education in Wisconsin. He is a former producer of the Cardinal Call podcast. Follow him on X at @gav_escott.