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.