Democratic candidates rally student support on campus
by Cristina Daglas, college writer
Over 200 people gathered on Library Mall yesterday at a rally to encourage students and community members to get out and vote today for Wisconsin’s Democratic candidates.
Supporters carried signs reading “Conservationists for Doyle Lawton” and “McCallum = Cyanide + Mining” while other supporters chanted, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, McCallum’s got to go.”
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and candidates Jim Doyle, Barbara Lawton and Peg Lautenschlager all spoke at the rally.
During Feingold’s speech, he expressed his thorough support for Baldwin and went on to say that she is “one of the most qualified people ever.”
He also praised Lautenschlager and demonstrated his strong belief that she will be elected tomorrow as Wisconsin’s first woman attorney general.
Feingold then spoke of the urgency for a Democratic governor, saying the Republicans have held the position for too long.
“This is about real issues that have to be changed,” Feingold said.
Doyle, who is running for governor, followed Feingold’s speech by praising Baldwin for her health-care emphasis and overall stance. After commending Baldwin, Doyle received a number of laughs regarding a recent comment published in an article stating, “Lautenschlager is better qualified than he (Doyle) was when he ran for attorney general.”
Doyle then said he was in full agreement with the comment.
The importance of the University of Wisconsin to the state was emphasized in many of the speeches, including Doyle’s. He also stressed how incredible it is to have “one of the greatest institutions in the world” right here in this state.
According to Doyle, it is time to get down to the basics of this election and to look past what Gov. Scott McCallum has tried to do by turning light away from his poor record.
“Vote for change,” Doyle said during the closing of his speech.
Following Doyle’s speech was a short song poking fun at McCallum performed by a Doyle supporter, which in turn received a good laugh from the crowd.
After the song ended and the laughs ceased, lieutenant-governor candidate Lawton took the stage on a more serious note. She expressed the need for a strong public education system and her desire to clean up the mess in the capital.
“Republicans have run us out of money and have run out of ideas,” Lawton said.
As the crowds lessened and students began to disperse, Lautenschlager, who is running for attorney general, gave a short speech supporting her strong views of returning to a progressive government and ensuring that all laws are enforced.
“The bottom line is that justice should not be for sale,” Lautenschlager said.
Following Lautenschlager’s address, Baldwin gave a speech, which strayed from the norm of the other candidates’. Instead of reiterating her views, she chose to emphasize the strong symbolism that lies beneath Library Mall. She spoke of people coming together to express their dreams for their community at this historical location of political speech.
“I am here supporting Tammy Baldwin, because I agree with everything she stands for and believe that she is the best candidate,” UW sophomore Melissa Faliveno said.
During Baldwin’s speech, a few Ron Greer supporters arrived but received little attention.
Falk ended the rally with a few words regarding how the students are the ones who will make the difference in this election.
“The student vote is important. UW-Madison is crucial in supporting these great student candidates,” UW senior Eric Phillips said.
