President Barack Obama, in his second appearance in Madison in just over a month, will take the stage near the State Capitol Monday morning, according to Kylie Nelson, assistant to the Wisconsin Department of Administration spokesperson.
Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said Obama will be speak some time between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between the City County Building and the Madison Municipal Building.
In a statement from the Obama campaign, doors to the event are to open at 7 a.m. Those who plan to attend must first RSVP online, the statement said.
Singer Bruce Springsteen will perform at the event as well.
According to the statement, Obama will also make appearances in Des Moines, Iowa, and Columbus, Ohio, the same day.
Entry to the Madison event is located at the intersection of West Mifflin Street and State Street, according to the campaign.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the event is scheduled to go from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 11:30 a.m.
Verveer said Obama will speak after Springsteen and other various speakers. He added the last time Springsteen appeared at a presidential rally was in 2004 for John Kerry’s presidential campaign.
As of Friday, Nelson said the Capitol Police Department is currently discussing the details of Obama’s visit and deciding how to patrol the event.
According to a statement from Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, there will be increased levels of security Monday morning in the area.
“Given the scope of this event and the relatively short notice, we fully expect some difficulties to arise,” Soglin said in the statement.
Resnick added the city is encouraging people to walk to the event and park somewhere a little further away.
Verveer said Sunday Obama is expected to arrive in Madison sometime late Sunday night in preparation of the rally.
WDA spokesperson Stephanie Marquis said in an email to The Badger Herald the campaign has a permit to occupy the Capitol grounds Monday. She said all state office buildings will stay open the whole day.
Obama held a rally on Bascom Hill Oct. 4, which drew a crowd of 30,000 students and members of the community.
Resnick said he does not believe the presidential visit will pose any dangers to the downtown area.
