Mary Burke rallies her supporters in Madison (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson, file)
With Election Day rapidly approaching, the candidates in the race for governor are doing everything they can to motivate voters to show up at the polls.
Democratic candidate Mary Burke is hoping for a big boost with her base later tonight, when she takes the stage in Milwaukee alongside President Barack Obama. The president is coming to Wisconsin as a part of a series of campaign events this week in states with contested races for governor. He’s scheduled to speak early this evening at Milwaukee’s North Division High School.
Recent polls have shown Burke and incumbent Republican Governor Scott Walker in a dead heat, with just a handful of likely voters still undecided. Burke says a visit from Obama “certainly increases awareness and excitement,” in the final days of the campaign.
Both Burke and Walker are maintaining busy schedules in the last full week of the campaign. Walker is on a bus tour to visit several cities, while Burke has appearances scheduled across the state as well. Burke says she’s “feeling great” because of the incredible support she’s receiving and the potential she sees for the state.
Obama is just the latest high profile political figure to campaign for Burke. Former-President Bill Clinton was in Milwaukee last Friday, while First Lady Michelle Obama has made two visits to Wisconsin this fall. Governor Walker on Monday continued to downplay President Obama’s visit, noting that major political figures have come out to support her in areas where she’s already likely to win by a large margin on November 4.