OSHKOSH, Wis. — Former President Bill Clinton spent Thursday afternoon in Wisconsin, as he made stops in Oshkosh and Milwaukee, with the hopes of getting supporters out to vote for the Harris-Walz ticket, as well as Democrats up and down the ballot.

With five days to go, Clinton stopped in one of the so-called BOW counties of Winnebago — a place that both Democrats and Republicans see as winnable. 

What You Need To Know

  • Former President Bill Clinton campaigned for Democrats in Wisconsin on Thursday during stops in Oshkosh and Milwaukee
  • The former president’s message focused on early voting, protecting freedoms, and Democrats’ plan to ensure everybody has an opportunity to get ahead

  • During his two terms in office, Clinton made five trips to Wisconsin

 
“I’m not running for anything, except my grandchildren’s future,” Clinton told the crowd gathered at the Democratic Party of Winnebago County field office.

Clinton spoke from a smaller stage as volunteers prepared to head out and canvass on Thursday.

“If you want me to help, send me where I’m most comfortable,” Clinton explained of a conversation he had with the Harris campaign. “Send me to the small towns, send me to the middle-sized towns, send me to places where national politics is often ignored.”

The former president’s message focused on early voting and driving home Democrats’ plan to ensure everybody has an opportunity to get ahead.

For some who attended, it was a trip back in time.

“It was actually a little bit emotional for me,” Gena Frey of Oshkosh explained. “Bill Clinton ran in ‘92. It was the first election I could vote in, in ‘92, and so it kind of brought it full circle for me to see this first person that made me want to be a Democrat.”

However, Clinton was future-focused and reminded the crowd the next president could appoint at least two new justices to the United States Supreme Court.

“If [Harris] gets two more appointments, it could be a balance at least,” Clinton said. “If [Trump] gets two more appointments, they will be the most rightwing court for 30 or 40 years, maybe longer.”

Former President Bill Clinton greets volunteers and supporters at the Democratic Party of Winnebago County field office in Oshkosh, Wis. (Spectrum News 1/Seth Wasserman)

“I was reminded about how rights for women have changed very dramatically in the last couple [of] years, and I think it’s important if we want to get Kamala Harris out there and vote her in as president, we want to make sure we can get those rights back for women,” Emily Benedict, who attended from Winneconne, said.

Those kinds of reminders resonated with others in the audience too.

“This is probably the most important election of my lifetime, and I see it, and I am volunteering, I am donating,” Tina Koch from Oshkosh added. “We need this for Americans, but it’s not just about me or this county, it’s for America.”

Clinton couldn’t agree with those feelings more.

“I’m pleading with you Wisconsin, go out there and give it all you’ve got,” Clinton said.” For your grandkids and mine, for your children, and for the United States — we need you desperately.”

Though Wisconsin has seen plenty of candidates and surrogates crisscross the state, visits by Clinton aren’t common.

During his two terms in office, Clinton made five trips to Wisconsin.

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