President Obama campaigns in Madison one day before Election Day. (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)
President Barack Obama hit the campaign trail Monday morning with a rally in Madison, where over 18,000 supporters gathered in the shadow of the state Capitol building for a final push to get out the vote in tomorrow’s election.
Obama was joined by musician Bruce Springsteen, who helped rally the crowd with several songs and even a few impersonations of the president’s aspiring music career. Springsteen asked those at the rally to vote and do the one thing they can to shape “the kind of America we want our kids grow up in.”
AUDIO: Bruce Springsteen (2:08)
Springsteen introduced Obama, who worked hard to reinforce a message that he’s not yet done with his work in the White House. The president made the argument that his administration has made progress towards getting the economy back on track and people back to work, but he called on voters to stand by him so he can “finish what we started” with a second term in office.
Rocker Bruce Springsteen performs in Madison just before President Barack Obama takes the stage. (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)
Obama said the plans he has in place are similar to what former President Clinton used to help build up the economy in the 1990s, while he argued the proposals of Republican challenger Mitt Romney are the same as those that helped lead to the economic collapse of the nation. Obama called Romney a “talented salesman” who is trying to repackage the same old bad ideas as new ones.
The president said Republicans are counting on people being frustrated that change has not come quickly in the last four years. Obama said “their bet is on cynicism, but Wisconsin, my bet is on you.”
Recent polls show President Obama with a slight lead over Romney in Wisconsin, heading into Tuesday’s election.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (:57)