On Friday, Oct 19, Michelle
Obama visited the Fieldhouse of the University of Wisconsin – Marathon County
in Wausau to speak to grassroots supporters of the Obama Campaign.
“What
I like about campaigning is talking about the man I love, your president. He
is handsome and charming and incredibly smart, but that’s not why I married
him. I married him because of his heart,” Obama said, opening the speech for
her audience.
According
to Wausau Fire Marshall David DeSantis, there were 980 attendees in the
Fieldhouse and another 600 in an overflow room. Her speech was geared towards
women and student voters, two key demographics in this election.
Wisconsin
counts for 10 electoral votes, making it one of the crucial Midwest states to
win. Before her stop at UWMC, Obama made a visit to speak in Racine, and later
Friday evening Bill Clinton spoke in Green Bay.
There
were a few speakers who opened for the first lady including Veteran Jim
Palmer, Pastor Steven Wright, WI State Assembly Representative Donna Seidel and
Former State Senator Pat Kreitlow. Cynthia Johnson of Rhinelander, a student in
the middle of her third year of college, introduced Obama and explained why she
is a supporter of President Obama.
“We
need a president that will stand up for students like me,” Johnson said. “I
know President Obama is looking out for me.”
President
Obama has made changes to the federal financial aid system since 2008. As the
first lady mentioned, Pell Grant spending has reached $35 billion, an amount
that will support about 10 million low-income students. Obama also pushed
Congress to postpone scheduled doubling of subsidized Stafford loans.
“When it comes to
student debt, Barack and I have been there,” Obama said. “Barack worked to
ensure that Pell Grant funding was doubled and he fought hard to keep interest
rates down on student loans.”
Obama made
statements about her husband’s stance on access to healthcare, contraception,
and women’s rights. She also spoke about efforts to improve the economy.
“We know very well
that cutting Sesame Street is no way to balance the budget,” Obama said. “Yes,
we have to make cutes to spending, but we also have to make smart investments.”
President Obama
“inherited an economy in rapid decline, but instead of complaining your
president got to work,” Obama said. “It is going to take way more than four
years to rebuild an economy on the brink of collapse.”
Presidential
Candidate Mitt Romney is scheduled to visit Defiance, OH Thursday, Oct 25; he
will be in Virginia Beach, VA on Sunday, Oct 28. As of now there are no
scheduled stops in Wisconsin for the Romney/ Ryan campaign.
Obama wrapped up
her speech by urging voters to vote early and tell all of their friends and
neighbors to vote. She said that what happens in the final days of the campaign
will absolutely affect the outcome of the election. Her speech ended with a
question.
“Are you ready for
this? Are you in?” she asked. She was answered by cheering and applause.
The full speech can be viewed on The Pointer YouTube channel
here.