Obama Rallies Democrats to Cast Their Ballots Early in 2024

Frederica Freyberg:
Tuesday was the first day for in-person early voting in Wisconsin, and the lines were out the door in clerks’ offices around the state, with nearly 100,000 votes cast. In Madison, the Harris campaign held a rally with vice presidential candidate Tim Walz and former President Barack Obama. “Here & Now” senior political reporter Zac Schultz was there.

Barack Obama:
It is great to be here in Wisconsin. It’s great to be back in the Midwest, where folks got good sense.

Zac Schultz:
Former President Barack Obama was the headliner at a rally in Madison Tuesday, but every speaker had the same message.

Ben Wikler:
You might hear people say that there’s two weeks until the election, but don’t believe it because early vote is here and this election is happening now.

Mark Pocan:
Who here plans on voting in-person early?

Tony Evers:
So let’s get to work and let’s win this damn thing. Let’s go.

Barack Obama:
And I know you’ve heard it about, I don’t know, 15 times so far today, but it’s worth repeating here in Wisconsin early voting starts today. If you haven’t voted yet, I won’t be offended if you just walk out right now. Go vote.

Zac Schultz:
Across the state, voters were already in line, ready to cast a ballot. Turnout was so high, there was a lag in the WisVote system that lets clerks print the sticker that goes on the absentee ballot envelope. The lag was fixed by early afternoon, around the time vice presidential candidate Tim Walz was telling the rally goers he wanted them to volunteer after they voted early.

Tim Walz:
Wisconsin, you got same day voter registration and it’s open today. Get there and vote. We need you door knocking. We need the calls.

Ana Wilson:
This is the second time I got to see Walz for a rally and first time for Obama, and it was just awesome. I loved it.

Zac Schultz:
We first introduced you to Ana Wilson and Landiran Kern at the Democratic National Convention. They’re College Democrats and have spent the last few months organizing student voters.

Landiran Kern:
Students around the area, especially at school, are excited.

Zac Schultz:
They took a break from classes and door knocking to attend the rally and get re-energized for the final stretch of the campaign.

Ana Wilson:
I’m sensing a lot of excitement, a lot of nerves, but I think people are really excited.

Zac Schultz:
Obama won Wisconsin twice, with the largest margins seen by a presidential candidate this century, and he knows the last couple weeks of a campaign bring many emotions.

Barack Obama:
So whether this election is making you feel excited or scared or hopeful or frustrated or anything in-between, do not sit back and hope for the best. Do not think this is a distraction or a joke. Get off your couch and do what?

Crowd:
Vote!

Zac Schultz:
Both Ana and Landiran say they plan to vote on Election Day, even as they work to get their classmates to vote early.

Landiran Kern:
I’ve been out canvassing a lot within the last couple of weeks, and most students have already sent in their absentee ballots. You know, those students who haven’t, we’re trying to get them out early voting, and you better believe if they’re not early voting, I will be at their door knocking on November 5th.

Zac Schultz:
Reporting from Madison, I’m Zac Schultz for “Here & Now.”