MADISON (WKOW) -- 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.
Harris' visit also comes as three states, Virginia, Minnesota, and South Dakota, kicked off early in-person voting earlier today, and national polling was released this week suggesting the vice president maintains slim leads across the blue wall states Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump are in a dead heat in Wisconsin. Harris emphasized that with just 46 days left until the November election, there's still much work to be done.
"The election is basically here," Harris said. "It's basically here, and we have work to do, to energize, to organize and to mobilize, and to remind everyone your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power, and never let anyone take your power from you."
Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler, Wisconsin Congressman Mark Pocan, and the Vice President encouraged attendees not to pay too much attention to the polls.
Wikler told 27 News in an interview that Democrats have to focus on the margin of effort when asked whether he was concerned about the latest results of national polling, "I like the excitement and enthusiasm and joy and team Harris, but we have to recognize that Trump supporters are fired up too, so we need to outwork the other side in order to win the state."
Harris addressed a range of issues during her remarks, including homeownership for working-class families, union rights, and abortion access.
"I took on the big banks and delivered $20 billion for middle class families who faced foreclosure because of predatory lending practices," said Harris. "I stood up for veterans and students who were being scammed by the big for-profit colleges and for workers who were being cheated out of the wages they were due, and for seniors facing elder abuse."
Vice President Harris also made a campaign stop in Georgia on Friday to highlight Reproductive Rights. Harris called out Trump's decision not to support a Florida ballot measure that would have expanded abortion access.
"Donald Trump handpicked three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe v Wade," Harris said during her remarks in Madison. "Now in more than 20 states, we have Trump abortion bans, many with no exceptions, even for rape and incest."
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a prominent and influential union, said it had no plans to back any presidential candidate in this year's presidential election. Longtime former leader James P. Hoffa of the national organization claimed the decision was a mistake and Harris was the "correct choice for labor and working families."
The Harris campaign attempted to show that she still has support among its local chapters across the Midwest, with Wisconsin Teamsters President Bill Carroll introducing the vice president ahead of her remarks.
"I'm proud of the work that my Teamster sisters and brothers have done here in Wisconsin and have accomplished over the years, and I'm proud to stand before you today to share that this week, Teamsters Joint Council 39 representing the teamsters here in Wisconsin, proudly endorsed Kamala Harris to be our next president of the United States," said Carroll.
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