On Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris rallied a roaring crowd of over 10,500 Wisconsinites in Madison, Wisconsin – driving a stark contrast between her new way forward to cut costs, protect our fundamental freedoms, and ensure that Americans not only get by, but get ahead, and Donald Trump’s extreme Project 2025 agenda that would give handouts to billionaires, ban abortion nationwide, cut Social Security and Medicare, and raise costs on middle-class families by nearly $4000 a year.
On the airwaves:
Reporter: “Harris addressed a range of issues during her remarks, including homeownership for working families.”
Kamala Harris: “I took on the big banks and delivered $20 billion for middle-class families who faced foreclosure because of predatory lending practices […]
Donald Trump handpicked 3 members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe v. Wade. Now, in more than 20 states, we have Trump Abortion Bans, many with no exceptions even for rape and incest.”
Reporter: “Vice President Kamala Harris’ trip to Madison is now in the books. Her visit to the capital city was the Vice President’s fourth visit to the state since launching her campaign. Harris drew a crowd of around 10,000 at the Friday rally. Her speech centered around access to affordable health care and abortion rights. The Vice President also touched on plans to make housing more affordable across the country.”
Reporter: “Vice President Kamala Harris in Madison Friday night. The Democratic stronghold with a booming and growing Democratic base that could upend how elections are traditionally won in the state.”
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway: “We’ve got people knocking doors all over town on a regular basis and the energy I’m feeling from the volunteers is fantastic.”
Kamala Harris: “Which is why Democrats, Republicans and independents are supporting our campaign, because they want a president – we want a president who works for all the American people. And I promise you that is the kind of president I will be.”
Reporter: “Meanwhile, Wisconsin Democrats are hoping to use that promise to mobilize. The campaign says so far more than 16,000 new volunteers have already completed a shift since Harris got into the race. A number that’s growing because of supporters like Jim Nelson of Kenosha, who signed up to do his part for a simple reason.”
Voter: “Her opponent — I’m very much not interested in having that guy in office again. If you don’t know what’s at stake, I suggest you do some research, because there’s an awful lot at stake. This is huge, huge, huge.”
Reporter: “With just 43 days left until Election Day, the presidential candidates are not slowing down when it comes to the fight to win battleground Wisconsin. Vice President Kamala Harris was here in Madison on Friday addressing a crowd of supporters at the Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center.”
Reporter: “The campaign says Friday night’s event was at capacity with over 10,500 people in attendance at the Alliant Energy Center. And now, with less than 50 days out from the election, Dane County Democrats are hoping to take that momentum forward […] Lisa Booker says she’s backing Harris with her sister to protect [reproductive] choice for women, even though she doesn’t believe in abortion herself.”
Reporter: “A bit of a homecoming for Vice President Harris when she visits Madison, a place where she briefly lived as a little girl. And based on the crowd here, home-field advantage as well in Dane County. It was an all-out pep rally for the Democratic presidential nominee.”
Kamala Harris: “This is a campaign about building community, building coalitions, reminding us all that we are all in together.”
Reporter: “Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris returned to the Badger State tonight for a campaign rally in Madison. This is the Vice President’s fourth visit to Wisconsin and her first to the capital city since announcing her campaign. Harris spoke for 30 minutes, addressing several pressing issues during the rally, including affordable housing. […] During her speech, she touched on her plans to boost the economy and expand the child tax credit. She also criticized Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the Affordable Care Act.”
Kamala Harris: “And let us be very clear, someone who suggests we should ‘terminate’ the Constitution of the United States should never again stand behind the seal of the President of the United States.”
Reporter: “More than 10,000 people packed the Coliseum here at the Alliant Energy Center for Vice President Kamala Harris as it marked her first visit to Madison since moving to the top of ticket. […] less than 50 days until Election Day — Vice President Kamala Harris rallied her base in the deep blue college town that Democrats are relying on to help them win in November.”
Kamala Harris: “And what we know — this is going to be a tight race until the very end. We have some hard work ahead of us. But here’s the thing: we like hard work.”
Student Voter: “She’s letting us know youth voters, people in Madison are important to her.”
Student Voter: “I think it’s important just to get people to know she’s here for us and cares about everybody. Every single vote is important to her.”
Reporters: “The race for the White House comes back to Wisconsin. Vice President Kamala Harris stopping in the Democratic stronghold of Madison. Thousands turned out for her rally at the Alliant Center. This is her fourth time in the Badger State since she was flipped to the top of the Democratic ticket in July. One big talking point today was reproductive rights.”
Kamala Harris: “Let us agree one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree: the government should not be telling her what to do. Not the government. Not the government. ”
Online:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Takeaways from Kamala Harris’ rally in the Wisconsin liberal stronghold Madison
[Mary Spicuzza, Alison Dirr, Jessie Opoien, 9/20/24]
Vice President Kamala Harris rallied more than 10,000 people Friday night in Madison — her first visit to Wisconsin’s capital city and fourth to the battleground state since launching her presidential campaign.
Harris urged the crowd gathered at the Alliant Energy Center to use their voices, and votes, to preserve their freedom and reproductive rights — and send her to the White House.
“Your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power, and never let anyone take your power from you,” Harris told the crowd. “So Madison, today, I ask you: are you ready to make your voices heard?”
In her approximately 30-minute speech, Harris touched on topics ranging from abortion rights to home ownership, health care to opportunities for middle-class Americans.
Wisconsin State Journal: In Madison speech, Kamala Harris spotlights women’s deaths to blast abortion bans
[State Journal Staff, 9/21/24]
Thousands of Kamala Harris fans packed the Dane County Coliseum ahead of vice president’s fourth visit to Wisconsin early Friday evening, waving multi-colored flashing wristbands and dancing to House of Pain’s Camp Randall anthem “Jump Around.”
“Its exciting,” supporter Judy Landsman of Madison said before the event after she and her husband, Howard, caught a shuttle bus to the sun-baked convention center parking lot. “I mean, this is not a city where she’s going to lose. So she is probably preaching to the choir. But then it gets people more interested and excited and willing to work, make phone calls etc.”
“Dane County is important for what happens in Wisconsin, Howard Landsman, 74, added. “We have to do better than we’ve done on the past in terms of voter turnout, so I think having her here to excite people…”
The Cap Times: Kamala Harris aims to energize liberal Madison for Election Day
[Erin McGroarty, 9/20/24]
Madison has historically served as Wisconsin’s most liberal city and — with the local population steadily growing — it’s clear Vice President Kamala Harris aims to pick up as many votes as possible in the capital and surrounding suburbs to help propel her to victory in November.
Harris held a packed rally at the Alliant Energy Center Coliseum on Friday, marking her first visit to Madison since declaring her candidacy in late July.
“Forty-six days until the election. We know this is going to be a tight race until the very end,” Harris said to a roaring crowd. “We are the underdog in this race and we have some hard work ahead of us … but we like hard work.”
Dane County is the fastest growing county in Wisconsin and will serve as a key area of support in Harris’ quest for victory in November.
Wisconsin Public Radio: In Madison visit, Harris emphasizes abortion access, attacks opponent Trump
[Anna Marie Yanny and Anya van Wagtendonk, 9/20/24]
Vice President Kamala Harris began her remarks at her first campaign visit to Madison since her presidential campaign launched in July by shouting out the years she spent living on the west side of Madison when her parents worked at the University of Wisconsin.
“Every time I land, the governor says, ‘Welcome home,’” Harris said.
Wisconsin is one of a handful of swing states expected to decide the outcome of November’s election, and both campaigns have passed through regularly. It was Harris’s fourth campaign visit to the state.
The Badger Herald: ‘We are the underdog in this race’: Harris urges supporters to campaign at Madison rally
[Alexia Becker and Zoe Klein, 9/21/24]
Vice President Kamala Harris held a campaign rally Sept. 20 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison with a crowd of over 10,500 attendees, according to the Harris campaign press secretary.
Harris discussed the importance of voter engagement and unity as the nation approaches a pivotal election, which was 46 days away as of Friday.
“There are 46 days until the election, and we know this is going to be a tight race until the very end,” Harris said. “Let’s not pay too much attention to the polls because — let’s be clear — we are the underdog in this race. We have some hard work ahead of us. But here’s the thing… we like hard work.”
Harris recapped her Sept. 10 presidential debate against former President Donald Trump and outlined her priorities, encouraging voters to “turn the page” from the previous administration.
Madison Commons: Harris comes home to Madison
[Maeghan Chase, 9/21/24]
On Friday evening the Madison community jumped around again — but it wasn’t on a game day, and it wasn’t for the football team.
It was at a rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris returned to Madison, where she lived as a child, for a rally at the Alliant Energy Center in front of 10,500 excited attendees.
It looked like a party or a concert or a festival more than it did a political event. Each guest wore a light-up bracelet that color-coordinated across the crowd as if it were a Taylor Swift concert. The music was loud, the strobe lights were strong, and hours before Harris even took the stage, the crowd — ranging in every possible age group — was already chanting her name.
When Harris arrived on stage, the crowd cheer was nothing short of deafening. Mothers held their children on their shoulders to see Harris walk out, while others stood on their chairs and jumped excitedly. Harris made her way down the lighted walkway, grinning and waving to the audience, making sure to point and wave to children and especially dressed-up supporters with hats and pins.
Spectrum News 1: ‘We are the underdog in this race’: Vice President Harris holds first Madison rally, calls on supporters to mobilize
[Anthony DaBruzzi, 9/21/24]
Vice President Kamala Harris wrapped up the work week in Wisconsin as she drew a maximum capacity crowd, per her campaign, to Madison’s Alliant Energy Center for a Friday night rally. […]
Dane County is home to the fastest growing population of any county in Wisconsin, so it didn’t come as much of a surprise that the Harris-Walz campaign hoped to tap into what it calls “people power” to grow its voter share in what has traditionally been a Democratic stronghold.
As the vice president entered the arena to applause from thousands of supporters, she didn’t hesitate to ask for action on their part.
“This is going to be a tight race until the very end, so let’s not pay too much attention to the polls because let’s be clear: we are the underdog in this race, and we have some hard work ahead of us,” Harris explained. “But here’s the thing, we like hard work. We like hard work. Hard work is good work. Hard work is joyful work.”
Isthmus: ‘We are ready for Kamala Harris’
[Liam Beran, 9/20/24]
Madison residents Raja Maunnamalai and his wife, Jenny Maunnamalai, turned out to Vice President Kamala Harris’ Madison rally on Friday to show their support for the candidate and to give their two young children an early “civics lesson.” Like Harris, Raja and Jenny are both the children of immigrants: Raja’s parents, says Jenny, are from the same part of India that Harris’ mother is from.
“We’re really excited to see a presidential candidate who looks like us — that’s special — [and] who’s fighting for the things that are important to our family,” says Jenny. Raja, a UW-Platteville chemistry professor, says that housing and public education are two important issues to him: “It’s hard for anyone to buy a home in Madison. We have two kids, and public education and childcare are important.”
With 10,500 attendees, the Alliant Energy Center was at capacity. Harris supporters danced to recent hits and oldies, belted out call-and-response chants with some of Wisconsin’s most prominent Democrats and erupted into deafening cheers when Harris came on stage. During her approximately 30-minute speech, Harris pitched a campaign of hope and joy — one she contrasted with the “extremely serious” consequences for the country were Donald Trump to return to office.
WKOW: Vice President Harris spotlights working class families, unions, during campaign stop in Madison
[Darrielle Fair, 9/20/24]
On Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris wrapped up her remarks in Madison as the Harris and Trump campaigns continue to heavily organize in Wisconsin, a state likely to decide the 2024 presidential election.
Harris gave a 29-minute speech at the Alliant Energy Center to a crowd size of more than 10,000 attendees in Dane County, a deep blue area where voter turnout could be decisive in this year’s election.
This is the Vice President’s first visit to Madison, but marked her fourth time in the battleground since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee.
WUWM: Kamala Harris tries to fire up voters in deep-blue Madison as part of a statewide plan for November
[Chuck Quirmbach, 9/20/24]
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris campaigned in one of her childhood hometowns Friday evening — Madison, WI — a deep blue community she’s relying on in a big way to win Wisconsin in November.
President Joe Biden carried Wisconsin four years ago by about 20,000 votes over Republican Donald Trump. Harris urged the Madison crowd to reject various plans Trump has announced he’ll implement if he gets back to the White House — such as making major changes to the Affordable Care Act.
Harris linked one of her major campaign themes to Wisconsin’s motto of Forward.
“We will move forward, and just like Wisconsin’s state motto tells us, forward is where we go. Forward is where we go, “ Harris said to cheers from a crowd of more than 10,000 people at the Alliant Center.
The Daily Cardinal: Harris rallied for abortion access and the economy in Madison visit Friday night
[Joseph Panzer and Ella Hanley, 9/20/24]
In a packed, electric Alliant Energy Center, Vice President Kamala Harris rallied for abortion rights and greater support for small businesses Friday evening during a campaign stop in Madison.
More than 10,000 attendees gathered to see Harris as she looks to shore up support in Wisconsin, a key battleground state in the 2024 presidential election. The trip marked Harris’ fourth visit to Wisconsin and her first time back in Madison since she announced her campaign in July.
“We are not going back,” Harris vowed as the crowd roared. “Just like the Wisconsin state motto tells us, forward is where we go! Because ours is the fight for the future and ours is a fight for freedom.”
WLUK: Over 10,000 supporters gather to hear Harris speak at Madison campaign rally
[Mallory Allen, 9/20/24]
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, attracted a crowd of more than 10,000 supporters at a rally Friday in Madison.
Harris made a campaign stop in Atlanta before departing for the Democratic stronghold and state capital of battleground Wisconsin, where she spoke at the Alliant Energy Center.
Harris arrived at the Dane County Regional Airport around 5 p.m. There, she was greeted by several of the state’s Democratic leaders, including Gov. Tony Evers. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski and Attorney General Josh Kaul.
PBS Wisconsin: Zac Schultz on Harris in Madison, Kennedy’s ballot status
[Zac Schultz, Frederica Freyberg, 9/20/24]
[Transcript:] It was quite the event. The crowds were here late afternoon. There was a DJ playing. There were people had color coded bracelets and there were colored lights. It was really more of a party environment reflecting the intentions of the Harris campaign to treat this as a momentum builder, a motivating factor for these people to volunteer, get out, vote and activate and energize the rest of the Democrats that they know and their family and friends group.
Madison 365: “Your vote is your voice.” Harris fires up crowd at Alliant Energy Center in Madison
[Omar Waleed, 9/20/24]
Vice President Kamala Harris drew thousands of supporters for her first presidential campaign rally in Madison.
Red and blue lights flickered on 10,500 supporters’ wristbands and accompanied cheers filled in Alliant Energy Center’s Veteran Memorial Coliseum. Harris, as she’s been making way around the country, took time to reiterate her platform and take a jab at former President Trump.
The rally marks Harris’ first time in Madison and fourth overall in Wisconsin, since she launched her bid for presidency. Harris spoke for around 30-minutes as she garnered excitement from supporters.
“Your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power, and never let anyone take your power from you,” Harris said to the crowd. “So Madison, today I ask you, are you ready to make your voices heard?
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kamala Harris rally in Wisconsin, highlights from campaign event at Madison’s Alliant Energy Center: Recap
[Mary Spicuzza, Alison Dirr, Jessie Opoien, 9/20/24]
Vice President Kamala Harris held a campaign rally in Madison Friday night, part of her presidential campaign against former president Donald Trump.
Harris, who was in Georgia earlier in the day for a rally, spoke for about 30 minutes to a sold-out Alliant Energy Center, addressing a range of issues, including abortion rights, home ownership and health care while drawing a sharp contrast between herself and Trump.
This is Harris’ first visit to Madison and fourth overall to Wisconsin since launching her presidential campaign. Harris’ last Wisconsin rally was at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum on Aug. 20, appearing along with running mate Tim Walz during the second night of the Democratic National Convention.
FOX6 News: Vice President Kamala Harris in Madison, spotlights abortion
[FOX6 Digital Staff, 9/20/24]
Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned in Wisconsin on Friday – returning to the battleground state for the fourth time since she launched her White House campaign in July.
Harris’ entry into the race has enlivened the Democratic Party’s base in Wisconsin, particularly in areas where she must run up big margins to carry a state that Joe Biden flipped from Republican Donald Trump in 2020.
In Madison, Harris shared the story of Amber Thurman, a mother who decided to have an abortion when she became pregnant again.
“She had her future all planned out,” Harris said. “And it was her plan. What she wanted to do for herself, for her son, for their future.”
WKOW: Vice President Kamala Harris in Madison: Democratic nominee holding rally Friday evening
[Chad Thompson, 9/20/24]
Vice President Kamala Harris will be back in Wisconsin on Friday.
The Democratic nominee for president is visiting Madison Friday evening for a rally.
[…] This trip marks Harris’ eighth visit to Wisconsin this year and her fourth since launching her presidential campaign. It will be her first stop in Madison since becoming the Democratic nominee.
Harris’ campaign has a large operation in Wisconsin with hundreds of staff and on-the-ground outreach efforts, the Associated Press reports. Supporters in the Badger State have knocked on more than 500,000 doors since Harris’ debate with Trump on ABC News.
WisPolitics: Harris knocks Trump on abortion during Madison rally
[Tiffany Li, 9/20/24]
Kamala Harris told a rally here Friday night that the country is in “a healthcare crisis, and Donald Trump is the architect” due to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Harris referenced Trump’s comments during their Sept. 10 debate that “every legal scholar” and politician, regardless of party, wanted to see Roe v. Wade overturned.
“These Trump abortion bans, they mean doctors may have to wait until the patient is at death’s door before they take any action. Nobody wants that,” Harris said.
Harris addressed a rally at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, which her campaign said was at capacity with more than 10,500 attendees.