The vice president’s wife visited Madison Monday morning at an event hosted by Obama for America to honor the first day of early voting.

In her speech Jill Biden urged Madisonians to vote early and requested supporters do what they can in the next two weeks before the presidential election.

Bradie Williams, field organizer at Organizing for America-Wisconsin, introduced Biden to the small crowd of supporters, including students, teachers and veterans, who gathered at the OFA office yesterday morning.

Williams opened the event by speaking on the many opportunities that he has had as a result of the schools and educators he has encountered.

“Vice President Biden and President Obama have been fighting for education and families for the last four years,” Williams said. “Dr. Biden is no exception. Dr. Biden is a life-long educator who has shown support for education and veterans, and it is great to have her here for the first day of early voting.”

Biden was greeted with a standing ovation upon entering the office. She began by drawing attention to her history as a full-time teacher, a profession she still holds as an English professor at Northern Virginia Community College.

“Teaching isn’t just what I do, but who I am,” Biden said. “I knew that my role as second lady would involve teaching as well, and as a teacher, it is important to me to make sure education improves.”

Biden said the Obama administration has doubled funding for Pell grants and made access to student loans easier.

She also touted the president’s success in foreign policy, noting Obama promised to get the United States out of the war in Iraq – a promise he kept. She also noted he pledged to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by 2014, another promise she said he will keep.

“I know how much you have worked and sacrificed for our country,” Biden said to the veterans in the room.

Biden promised the Obama administration will continue to work to ensure that veterans get the benefits and respect that they have earned in serving our country.

Biden also focused on women’s rights and reminded the crowd the first bill Obama signed when he got into office was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a measure that ensured equal pay to women. 

“We have fought so hard for Roe v. Wade, access to contraception and equal rights for women in the workforce,” Biden said. “Our children and grandchildren should not have to fight these same battles.” 

Biden also discussed the economy and said in the 31 months of the worst recession since the Great Depression, Obama and Vice President Biden have added a record number of jobs.

She said in order to keep moving forward, Obama and Biden need to be reelected for a second term.

“Moving forward means that we keep working for a better life for all Americans,” Biden said. “This election is not about the president, the vice president or me. This election is about your lives, and making a difference.”

She concluded her speech by urging those in attendance to keep canvasing and getting others involved.