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Obama Stumps for Democrat Mary Burke in Milwaukee

Erin Toner

With less than a week to go before Wisconsin’s gubernatorial election, President Obama swung into Milwaukee Tuesday night to stump for Democratic candidate Mary Burke.

More than 3,500 people waited in line for hours to see the president at Milwaukee’s North Division High School. Some in the crowd wore caps with Obama’s name on them. Others held signs for Democratic Burke.

Thousands waited outside North Division High School in Milwaukee Tuesday night to see President Obama.

Inside the school, when the president finally took the stage, he told the crowd Burke is the candidate for them – she supports raising the minimum wage, she’ll advocate for education and grow the state’s economy.

Obama reminded voters that Wisconsin lags the nation in job growth.

“Over the next week you have a chance to change that. You have a chance to choose a governor who doesn’t put political ideology first, who’s not thinking partisan first. She’s gonna put you first,” Obama said.

Carl Neal sat on bleachers listening to the president. He says slow job growth in Wisconsin is hitting people in Milwaukee hardest.

“I came up in an era when jobs were abundant. You could leave one job and go to another job and now jobs are not as plentiful. So I think a big effort for jobs is necessary,” Neal says.

On the campaign trail, Democrat Burke has been blasting Republican Gov. Scott Walker for his failure to deliver on a promise to create 250,000 jobs during his first term.

Walker touts 110,000 jobs created, and a declining unemployment rate. On Friday, Walker plans to campaign in Wausau alongside New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Both Walker and Christie are mentioned as possible 2016 presidential candidates.

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