On the first day of early voting in Wisconsin, Democratic nominee for Vice President, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, spent the day traveling the swing state.
The goal of the latest visits was to get supporters out to vote sooner rather than later with 14 days to go until Election Day.
Last month, Vice President Kamala Harris held a rally of her own at Alliant Energy Center where Walz spoke on Tuesday. However, this time the takeaway was a bit different as the campaign called for supporters to get out and vote early.
“All of this energy and all of these rallies, and all of the door knocks, and all of the phone calls, and all of the money have to translate into something so wonderful and so simple; that little ‘I voted’ sticker on more Wisconsin folks than ever before,” Walz told the crowd.
Walz wasn’t alone as he had help from a familiar face—former President Barack Obama made his first visit to Wisconsin of this campaign cycle.
“Tim will be an outstanding vice president, but he’s only going to be an outstanding vice president if you vote,” Obama told the crowd. “If you haven’t voted yet, I won’t be offended if you just walk out right now. Go vote!”
Tuesday was just the latest event in what has been a true campaign blitz across Wisconsin over the last week.
Harris made stops in three Wisconsin cities last Thursday and was back to campaign in Waukesha County on Monday with former Republican. Rep. Liz Cheney.
Meanwhile, Republican vice-presidential candidate Ohio Sen. JD Vance spoke to Catholic voters in Waukesha on Sunday.
Madison native turned actor Bradley Whitford also voiced his support for early voting during Tuesday’s rally.
“This ain’t no stinking television show. The stakes have never been higher, and the consequences are real,” Whitford said.
Whitford and his and fellow castmates from the TV series ‘The West Wing’ made stops across the state over the weekend to stump for Harris just days before Obama became the latest surrogate to swing through Wisconsin.
“So, Wisconsin, we do not need to see what an older, loonier Donald Trump looks like with no guardrails,” Obama explained. “America is ready to turn the page. We are ready for a better story Wisconsin. We are ready for a President Kamala Harris.”
Wisconsin Republicans, on the other hand, criticized Obama’s record as they tied it to what they believe a Harris presidency would entail.
“As Americans grapple with high energy costs, the border crisis, and turmoil overseas, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are turning to Barack Obama to rescue their flailing campaign—the same Barack Obama who blocked the Keystone Pipeline, granted unilateral amnesty by executive order, and shielded Hezbollah from scrutiny to advance his ill-advised Iran deal,” WisGOP Chairman Brian Schimming said in a statement. “Is it any wonder that voters increasingly distrust the Democratic Party to lower costs and keep them safe?"
Gov. Walz wrapped up his day in Racine where another rally was held to mark the first day of early voting in Wisconsin.