With Election Day just around the corner, gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke is getting help from several big-name Democrats.
On Friday, Bill Clinton appeared with Burke at a rally at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Milwaukee. During his speech, Clinton said it should be easy for voters to choose Democrat Burke over Republican Gov. Scott Walker at the polls on Nov. 4.
“I’m telling you, based on their approach, their attitude, their skills, their record, this should not be a close race, and you gotta go make sure that people (don’t stay home) because there’s no presidential race on the ballot. You gotta change that, you gotta get everybody out and elect Mary Burke governor of Wisconsin,” Clinton said.
The former president talked about Trek Bicycle, the company run -- and founded by -- Burke's family. He said if he he were a moderate Republican, he would choose Burke over Walker, “because I’d rather have somebody who knew what it would take to build a small business into a bigger one and hired people and took them along for the ride on fair terms (other than) somebody who thought we had to give more away to people who are already powerful – whether they create jobs in our state or not.”
Clinton added that he believes Burke is a better choice for helping Wisconsin continue to recover from the recession. He said he knows what it takes, having served as governor of Arkansas before becoming president.
“The main job of every governor in an economically distressed time is to create jobs, improve the job mix so that the wages rise, train people to do the jobs, and educate and prepare the children to succeed. That is the main work of a governor,” Clinton said.
A few weeks ago, First Lady Michelle Obama stumped for Burke in Milwaukee. Next Tuesday – just one week before the election -- President Barack Obama will be here to rally voters for Burke.
Gov. Walker also may have some high-profile visitors in coming days. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie reportedly plans to visit Wisconsin on Walker’s behalf next week. Christie campaigned in Wisconsin for Walker earlier this fall.
