Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama campaigned in Eau Claire on Sunday, one day after announcing his running mate.
Hosting the “Barbecue with Barack Obama” at an Eau Claire park, Senator Obama was joined by a couple of the state's top Democrats: Governor Jim Doyle and U.S. Senator Russ Feingold.
Obama “is going to work with us in the state of Wisconsin, (and) all across the United States, to not only make sure that health care is available for people in this country, but is affordable for people in this country as well,” said Doyle. “In a few weeks, I'm gonna be calling you Mr. President,” Feingold said to Obama, “and I'm gonna look forward to that.”
Obama spoke to about 300 invited guests, a mix of supporters and undecided voters. Obama related John McCain's answer to a question during a recent forum at Saddleback Church: what was McCain's definition of rich? Obama said McCain's answer, five million dollars, indicated he's out of touch with the middle class. Obama vowed to end tax breaks for companies that move overseas: “we will stop giving those tax breaks to companies that invest overseas, and start giving them to companies that invest right here in Eau Claire.”
Obama was not joined by Senator Joe Biden , his new running mate. The two will campaign separately until they appear together at the Democratic National Convention in Denver on Thursday.
Earlier on Sunday Obama attended services at First Lutheran Church in Eau Claire.