Democratic Senator Barack Obama's wife Michelle made stops in three Wisconsin cities Monday, including one in Madison to kick off a campaign effort focused on women.
About 1,500 people filled Memorial Park outside Camp Randall Stadium for the morning event. Before it began, we asked attendees what women's issues they were looking at going into the election. Some, but not all, of their issues were directly addressed by Michelle Obama.
"I'm pro-choice, and Obama is pro-choice, and he is committed to keeping Rowe versus Wade," said Rebecca Anderson-Brown of Madison. Republican candidate John McCain believes in returning the abortion issue to the states, instead of keeping it on the federal level.
Meanwhile Rachel Garry, a UW freshman, said she wanted "more equal pay." "Women should get paid for sick days just like a man would," she said.
An hour later, Obama addressed that topic. "There is only one candidate who is commited to finally seeing women receive equal pay for the work that they do," said Michelle Obama.
Obama said her husband also wants to expand the Family Medical Leave Act to ensure that every American worker receives seven paid sick days a year. Among other cases, that would help single working mothers when their children fall ill.
Most of her speech Monday morning, however, hit other issues in the campaign. From a firm timeline to pull out of Iraq, to seeking energy independence, to finding ways to guarantee college for students who otherwise couldn't afford it.
Besides Monday's rallies in Madison, West Allis, and Wausau, the campaign is trying to boost the women's vote in other ways. It has already organized what are being called "get the facts" house parties.
They've also planned events named 'Women's Wednesdays," in which women volunteers will do phone banking every Wednesday between now and Election Day.
As far as the equal pay issue, we contacted a McCain spokesperson in Wisconsin. Kirsten Kukowski wrote in an email:
"A son, husband and father of three daughters, Senator John McCain recognizes there are issues unique to women. From improving healthcare options to making certain discrimination doesn't exist in the workplace and working families have flexibility in their schedules; McCain will continue to support issues important to women.
"While Senator McCain supports ending discrimination in the workplace for everyone, he doesn't support the Equal Pay Act because it would flood our already over-burdened court system and burden employers by lengthening the discrimination filing period by six months or more. Businesses would have no choice but to pass their time and monetary burdens along to consumers. "
