Former President Barack Obama and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz held a rally in Madison, while Republicans are organizing events to rally support for Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the White House.
Mr. Trump narrowly lost Wisconsin in 2020 by just under 21,000 votes, during an election that experienced unprecedented levels of early and absentee voting due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He and Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, are anticipating a similarly close race this time, with both parties urging voters to cast their ballots early.
In previous elections, Mr. Trump was vocally critical of mail-in voting, falsely asserting that it was fraught with fraud.
However, this election cycle, he and his supporters are actively endorsing all methods of voting.
At a rally in Dodge County, Wisconsin, earlier this month, the former president specifically encouraged early voting.
Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Brian Schimming noted that the message to vote early from Mr. Trump and Republicans this year has been “very clear”.
Mr. Schimming even advocated for the use of absentee ballot drop boxes, a method that Mr. Trump had previously opposed but that Republicans in Wisconsin still endorse.
“We need to make use of every possible way to get votes in,” Mr. Schimming stated.
“If it means the difference between submitting a vote or not, I tell Republicans: ‘Put it in the mailbox or use the drop box’.”
Numerous Republican officials and candidates are planning to vote early.
“You never know when a snowstorm could hit in November in Wisconsin,” remarked US Representative Bryan Steil.
“It’s a perfect opportunity while the weather is pleasant to visit your local office and cast your vote, ensuring that it is banked.”
Donald Trump asserts he is ready to be president again
Mr. Obama and Mr. Walz, the governor of neighboring Minnesota, organized an early voting rally in the Democratic stronghold of Madison.
Vice President Harris had held a rally at the same location last month, drawing more than 10,000 attendees.
Later today, Mr. Obama will head to neighboring Michigan as part of his tour through battleground states to promote early voting.
Ms. Harris has been focusing her efforts in the “blue wall” states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania in the campaign’s closing weeks, including recent visits to Michigan and Wisconsin.
Mr. Vance was also present in the conservative suburbs of Milwaukee on Sunday.
The Wisconsin Democratic Party is hosting events throughout the state to promote early voting, alongside liberal advocacy groups like Souls to the Polls, a Milwaukee-based organization aimed at mobilizing black voters.
This demographic is crucial for Democrats in Milwaukee, which is the state’s largest city and a key source of Democratic votes.
Early voting in Wisconsin will continue until Sunday, November 3. Voters are not required to provide a reason for voting early.
They can request a ballot paper at designated locations and vote in person.
As of Friday, over 305,000 absentee ballots have already been returned in Wisconsin.
Voters can still submit their ballots via mail, in person, or at absentee drop boxes.
All absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, November 5.
Kamala Harris is joined on the campaign trail by former Republican politician Liz Cheney
Throughout the campaign, Ms. Harris and Mr. Trump have been delivering starkly different messages.
The vice president, campaigning alongside former Republican politician Liz Cheney in key battleground states, has asserted that Mr. Trump poses a threat to democracy.
She has intensified her criticisms of his suitability for office, often referring to him as “unstable” or “unhinged” and questioning his temperament.
“In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man, but the implications of him being president are profoundly serious,” stated Ms. Harris during an event in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Trump consistently rejects the idea that he is a threat to democracy, claiming instead that it is the Democrats who pose a real risk due to the criminal investigations involving him and his allies as they attempted to overturn the 2020 election results.
He traveled through North Carolina seeking support in the highly competitive state, stopping in areas affected by recent hurricanes and urging supporters to go to the polls despite their challenges.
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While Ms. Harris has been suggesting that her opponent is unfit for office, he has been questioning the competence of the Biden administration.
Mr. Trump renewed his critiques of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and sought to connect with working-class supporters by emphasizing his relentless campaigning.
“I’ve worked 52 days straight without a day off, which a lot of these individuals would respect,” he remarked at a podium surrounded by debris from last month’s floods.
With opinion polls indicating a tight race, both candidates are ramping up their activities, demonstrating the significance of small voter segments that could determine the next occupant of the White House.
