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On Wisconsin: Primary race heats up
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Also by Beth Mueller:
- On Wisconsin: Primary race heats up (February 11, 2008)
- Chelsea Clinton stops by Union (February 12, 2008)
- Obama gains support (February 8, 2008)
- State awaits big primary turnout (February 7, 2008)
- Republican political groups await more concrete results (February 6, 2008)
Related Stories:
- Doyle 'calling' for cell phone drive at Obama event today (February 12, 2008)
- Obama gains support (February 8, 2008)
- Chelsea Clinton stops by Union (February 12, 2008)
- Obama packs Kohl Center (February 13, 2008)
- State awaits big primary turnout (February 7, 2008)
by Beth Mueller
Monday, February 11, 2008
With Wisconsin’s presidential primary approaching and the Democratic contest still hotly contested, both candidates rolled out plans over the weekend to bring their messages to the state in person.
Chelsea Clinton will be at Memorial Union this afternoon, while Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., will hold a rally Tuesday night at the Kohl Center, while. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., will attend a Milwaukee event Feb. 16. Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea, will be campaigning for her mother at the Memorial Union this afternoon.
The doors will open for Obama’s rally at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, and admission is free. Students for Obama Vice Chair Maggie Raiken said they expect to pack the Kohl Center, which has a capacity of more than 17,000 for athletic events.
“We’re just really excited, and it just shows that he’s really taking Wisconsin seriously, as he should, and really counting on the student vote,” Raiken said.
Chelsea Clinton will take questions from students and faculty in the Memorial Union’s Main Lounge today at 3:15 30 p.m. in a meet-and-greet style event, part of Sen. Clinton’s “Our Voices, Our Future” set.
“I expect her message to be a lot about the importance of young voters, really talking about her mom’s issues that affect young voters: things like health care, stem cell research and her stance on Roe v. Wade,” said University of Wisconsin Students for Hillary Clinton Chair Erica Buthmann.
Buthmann added she expected the event to bolster support for Clinton in the election and student interest in the race.
“Just having someone so high-profile in general is pretty exciting for the election and for our group,” Buthmann said.
Clinton’s campaign also announced over the weekend that the senator has accepted an invitation to participate in a debate at Marquette University in Milwaukee. ABC’s George Stephanopoulos and a panel of Wisconsin journalists would moderate the debate. As of press time, Obama had yet to accept or decline thehis invitation.
Obama’s visit Tuesday night will come as polls are closing in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland and the District of Columbia. Raiken said she expects Wisconsin to see plenty more of Obama between Tuesday and Wisconsin’s primary Feb. 19.
“Obviously, the only other state that’s on that day is Hawaii, so he’s likely to be in this state a lot after Tuesday, so we’re just hoping he comes back to Madison and really values the student vote here,” Raiken said.
Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle has been an outspoken supporter of Obama, campaigning for him throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest.
“He has tremendous momentum coming into the Wisconsin primary, and Tuesday’s rally will be a great opportunity to showcase his strong, grassroots support from throughout the state,” Doyle said in a statement. “This will not only be a chance to hear Barack Obama’s vision for our country — but to get actively involved in this movement for change.”
Raiken added the group has seen a fast response from students eager to hear Obama speak.
“We created a Facebook [event] at 1:30 in the afternoon [Saturday]] and by 5:00 it had over a thousand people already attending,” she said. That number has climbed to about 2,000 as of press time.
College Democrats Chair Oliver Kiefer said candidates who visit campus would have a leg up on the opposition, and that Obama’s visit would humanize him to students.
“I have a feeling that this is going to be a sold- out, jam- packed full house,” Kiefer said. “And I don’t think that should be a surprise to anyone.”
Other Wisconsin events from both candidates are anticipated, though not yet confirmed.
Anonymous (February 11, 2008 @ 3:06am):
This will Obama's second visit to Madison, and the Clinton campaign sends Chelsea?!?! Come on now...
Anonymous (February 11, 2008 @ 4:22am):
Clinton has specifics to her policies and Obama keeps thinking hope will stop Ossama? Cmon now...
Anonymous (February 11, 2008 @ 6:40am):
At the risk of wading into a Clinton vs. Obama food fight here, I'd like to ask the two campaigns and the College Democrats (as well as the College Republicans, when that time comes) to stop sending out spam e-mails to the entire student body about their candidates/events. Most students just delete the e-mails and grumble about another annoying piece of spam.
Anonymous (February 11, 2008 @ 10:02am):
Republicans and Moderates who have disdain for Hillary but are not committed to Obama or favor McCain should still vote for Obama in the WI primary anyways. McCain has all but secured the republican nomination and Hillary has significantly more superdelegates than Obama. Obama needs an overwhelming majority of regular delegates to keep Hillary from getting the party nomination. To keep Hillary out of the white house, VOTE OBAMA regardless of who you plan to vote for in the general election!
Anonymous (February 11, 2008 @ 10:46am):
first of all, if you're not an idiot you can find specifics for obama's plans. he's got more of them than she does.
second of all, don't claim to speak for "most students." it's arrogant and asinine.
Anonymous (February 11, 2008 @ 11:29am):
students for hillary sent out a campus-wide email, students for obama didn't.
Anonymous (February 11, 2008 @ 11:43am):
Clinton apparently thinks going to war in Iraq was going to stop Osama. Now she wants to bomb Iran. Gee, how'd that work out for us?
I'm pretty sure Obama wins the "who has better foreign judgment" game.
Thanks for playing.
Anonymous (February 11, 2008 @ 3:11pm):
Our enemies will think they will have it easy if they're up against boy wonder Obama, just like Khrushchev thought that boy wonder JFK would allow nukes in Cuba. It only took going to brink of nuclear war to stop that.
Nobody going to fark with Hillary (or McCain).
Anonymous (February 11, 2008 @ 3:12pm):
My spell checker keeps suggesting that I change Obama to Osama.
Anonymous (February 11, 2008 @ 3:15pm):
I am voting for Hillary not because she is a woman - but because I am.
Anonymous (February 11, 2008 @ 5:20pm):
Perhaps Obama will HOPE the terrorists away.
lol.
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