Obama and Walz excoriate Trump at Wisconsin rally in early voting push

On the first day of early voting in Wisconsin, the atmosphere was charged as Tim Walz, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, took aim at Elon Musk, referring to him as a “dipshit.” Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama weighed in on the current political landscape, commenting on Donald Trump’s behavior by saying, “You’d be worried if Grandpa was acting like this.”

The rally in Madison, a key Democratic stronghold, aimed to galvanize early voter turnout while highlighting the dangers of a potential second Trump presidency. Later on, Obama headed to Detroit to campaign for Kamala Harris, alongside rapper Eminem, as they sought to bolster support in Michigan, where recent polls indicate a tight race between Harris and Trump.

Addressing the crowd, Walz called out Trump and his ally Musk, arguing that if Trump were to win, Musk could find himself under regulatory scrutiny for his businesses. Walz derided Trump’s recent publicity stunt of serving food at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, branding it as a disingenuous act of “cosplaying” working-class life. “It was a stunt. Fake orders for fake customers,” he stated.

He further criticized Trump’s current rhetoric, contrasting it with Trump’s previous persona from the 2016 campaign. “He’s talking about sending the military against people who don’t support him. He’s naming names,” Walz noted.

Obama, who successfully campaigned in Wisconsin during his two terms, passionately urged the Madison audience to head to the polls. He quipped, “I wouldn’t be offended if you just walk out right now and go vote,” before launching into a critique of Trump’s fundraising tactics, which have included selling gold-colored sneakers and luxury watches. “Who does that? You’re running for president, and you’re hawking merchandise,” Obama remarked.

Drawing comparisons between Trump’s speech style and that of Fidel Castro, Obama expressed concern over Trump’s increasingly erratic remarks. He stated, “He calls himself the father of IVF. I have no idea what that means – you don’t either,” alluding to what he sees as signs of mental decline. “You’d be worried if Grandpa was acting like this,” he added, highlighting Trump’s desire for unchecked power.

Obama also reflected on his administration’s efforts to improve healthcare access, specifically for those with pre-existing conditions, while criticizing Trump for abandoning pandemic preparedness initiatives, which he claimed contributed to increased COVID-19 deaths. “Most of you know somebody whose life was touched,” he urged voters disillusioned with the political process to still engage in the upcoming election.

Before Walz and Obama took the stage, several local leaders, including Madison mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Senator Tammy Baldwin, encouraged voters to either submit their absentee ballots or vote in person. “Don’t take the risk of forgetting to vote – vote early,” called out Representative Mark Pocan, joking that a Packers game the weekend before could lead to a two-day hangover that might jeopardize voting plans.

Reflecting on the early voting trend, over 18 million Americans had cast ballots across the nation by this point in the election cycle, with more than 326,000 individuals from Wisconsin alone. This number is expected to surge as the state’s early voting period is just underway.

With a battleground like Wisconsin, which played a crucial role in the 2020 election where Biden won by a slender margin, both parties understand the stakes. Local resident Deb Merritt expressed her anxiety about the tight margins, saying that the close race drove her and her husband Rod to volunteer for the Harris campaign. “I’m definitely nervous,” Deb admitted, while Rod mentioned encountering undecided voters leaning Democratic.

As the clock ticks down to Election Day, analysts suggest the last-minute drives to mobilize voters might very well tip the balance in a state known for its unpredictability in elections. Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler emphasized the need for a concerted effort, urging volunteers to keep pushing rather than assuming victory is assured.

In Detroit, Obama energized the crowd, even rapping a bit of Eminem’s lyrics, as he hailed Harris as a true advocate for the middle class. He contrasted her genuine work experience with Trump’s superficial attempts to connect with regular Americans. “She did not pretend to work at McDonald’s when it was closed. She actually held a fast-food job in college,” he remarked, bringing attention to the real-life experiences that inform Harris’s leadership.

As he reflected on the tumult Trump brought to Michigan post-2020 election, Obama recounted incidents of voter intimidation and protests spurred by Trump’s false claims of fraud, emphasizing the importance of standing up for democracy. “All because Donald Trump couldn’t accept losing,” he concluded, urging participation and vigilance in the democratic process.