The nationwide Ready for Hillary bus tour stopped in Madison Wednesday to drum up support both for ex-New York Sen. Hillary Clinton’s potential 2016 presidential campaign and for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke.
Representatives from the Ready for Hillary super PAC, as well as volunteers from UW-Madison’s College Democrats, handed out promotional materials and encouraged students to support Clinton and Burke.
“The governor’s race in Wisconsin has a lot at stake,” Ready for Hillary Communications Director Seth Bringman said. “We wanted to come with the message that if you support Hillary Clinton, get out there and support Mary Burke as well.”
College Democrats press secretary Lizzy Schounard said she also sees the event as a way to rally student support for Burke as the Nov. 4 election draws closer.
“We’re hoping that this will attract like-minded progressive people who will be willing to help elect Mary Burke,” Schounard said. “We’re trying to get people who may not be engaged with College Democrats but who are interested in Hillary to support Mary as well.”
Bringman sees both UW-Madison and the city as a whole as important bases of support for both candidates.
“Madison has always been a democratic stronghold, and that will be important going forward,” he said. “Students have been a huge part of our movement, both for the 2014 [election] and looking forward to 2016.”
The bus tour is part of a grassroots effort by the super PAC to reach out to Democrats in states with competitive elections. The bus will next stop in Minnesota, Illinois and North Carolina.
