M.L. JOHNSON
Associated Press
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton rallied fellow Democrats in Wisconsin on Friday, saying the nation is watching the state and voters shouldn’t have a hard choice in choosing a governor when they compare the state’s economic recovery to that of the U.S. as a whole.
Clinton, who was in Milwaukee campaigning with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke, said the country has regained the jobs lost since 2008, but Wisconsin has not. Instead, the former president said, the state has 50,000 fewer jobs than when Burke led economic development efforts under former Gov. Jim Doyle.
“You want a governor who will get you more jobs, and you want a governor who will get you better paying jobs,” Clinton said.
The crowd laughed when he added, “If you look at who’s best qualified to do that, this is not a hard decision.”
Burke has been locked for months in a tight race with Republican Gov. Scott Walker, and a Marquette Law School poll released last week showed the two in a dead heat.
Both parties have been seeking star power to invigorate get out the vote efforts in an election where victory will likely depend on who gets more supporters to the polls. First lady Michelle Obama has made two appearances for Burke, and President Barack Obama will campaign with her Tuesday in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is expected to make a second visit to the state to back Walker.
“I can’t imagine anybody whose mind is not made up,” said Beth Kutka, 61, of Eagle, who came with several friends to see Clinton. “But I think it is the turnout that is important … hopefully rallies such as this will support, will encourage people to vote.”
Most of those in the audience Friday were old enough to remember when Clinton was president and expressed admiration for him personally.
Marta Meyers, 64, of Milwaukee, arrived two hours before doors opened at the hotel where Clinton was speaking. Meyers said she was already committed to voting for Burke because “we need to get rid of Scott Walker.”
But she had never heard Clinton speak before and was looking forward to hearing him address health care and advocate for public education. Meyers said she thought get out the vote efforts were important because, while she votes regularly, others don’t.
“I tell everyone I see, ‘get out and vote,'” she said. “They need to understand how important it is.”
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