By james art 
Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Madison College student Neve Jackson-Winters at the Obama Walz campaign rally, Oct. 22.
Madison College student Nevai Jackson-Winters was among the packed crowd that came to see former President Barack Obama and Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Waltz host a rally in Madison on Tuesday afternoon, October 22.
But before taking her seat in the audience at the Alliant Center, Jackson-Winters said she was voting for the first time.
Nevaeh Jackson-Winters speaks at the Obama Walz rally on October 22 (Kelly Feng)
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After giving a special shout-out to her fellow Madison College Democrats, she said she is working hard at the college to make sure Harris and Walz win this election. She told the audience in Wisconsin that they have 14 days left to choose Kamala Harris and Tim Waltz, reminding them that today is the first day of voting.
Student Senate President Kai Brito, Governor Tammy Baldwin, Lina DeMarte and Nevaeh Jackson-Winters at an Obama Waltz campaign rally on October 22 (Kelly Feng)“Madison – I’m asking you – are you fired up? Are you ready to move forward instead of backward? Jackson-Winters said to thunderous applause.
Jackson-Winters’ remarks were followed by several Madison leaders, including Congressman Mark Pocan, Gov. Tony Evers, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Sen. Tammy Balwin.
Afterward, Walz spoke to a packed crowd of supporters, addressed the audience, encouraged voting and warned against a second Trump presidency.
He noted Trump’s recent appearance at McDonald’s, where he served food. The fast food restaurant in Pennsylvania was closed to host the presidential candidate.
“There’s something not just crazy, but cruel about a billionaire using people’s livelihoods as a political prop,” Walz said, referring to Trump as someone who “belittles the very workers he’s impersonated.”
After Waltz finished speaking, he announced Barack Obama, who entered the stage to a roaring crowd that greeted him with cheers and chants.
The former president encouraged the crowd to get to the polls and spent much of his speech attacking Trump.
“I won’t be offended if you just go out now and go vote,” he said.
Obama focused on the stakes of the election, making the case against Donald Trump. As he pumped up the crowd, Obama described the former president’s words as dangerous and “shameful.”
“I understand why people want to shake things up. I get it. What I can’t understand is why anyone would think that Donald Trump is going to shake things up in a way that’s good for you,” said Obama, who won Wisconsin in 2008 and 2012. “That’s not i understand because there is absolutely no evidence that this is what a person thinks about anyone but themselves.
Afterward, Jackson-Winters said she found Obama’s words memorable. “His speech meant a lot to me when he talked about how voting might not be important to you, but think about the other people in your life. I think that was so true to say,” said Jackson-Winters, a Liberal Arts Transfer student.
“Many people are very privileged not to have to think about how voting will affect them. But it’s good to think about the people in your life who will be affected. It was very emotional for me when he talked about it,” she said.
The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be one of the closest in modern history, with Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump locked in a dead heat to win the White House.
Early voting in Wisconsin began Tuesday and runs through Sunday, Nov. 3. Voters do not have to give a reason for absentee voting. Ballots began being mailed in late September, but starting Tuesday, voters can request one at designated polling locations and vote in person.