Obama Madison Rally, October 4, 2012 (Details)

Obama will be in Madison on Thursday.

I don't know why. I thought Mitt Romney has lost Wisconsin. I thought the race was over.

No?

From the Wisconsin State Journal:

The visit — Obama's third to Madison since being installed as president — is scheduled for the day after he debates Republican nominee Mitt Romney in Denver and about a month before the election.

The latest polling shows Obama with a comfortable lead in the state, but many observers still consider Wisconsin a battleground state.

University spokesman Vince Sweeney said officials are planning for a similar crowd as in September 2010, when an estimated 26,500 packed into Library Mall and spilled onto Bascom Hill across the street. Weather could drive those numbers down, as the forecast on Monday called for a 20 percent chance of showers on Thursday. Umbrellas will not be allowed in.

Sweeney said classes in Bascom Hall and nearby buildings would be either relocated or canceled although university officials were still working out details late Monday. All other classes will go on as scheduled across campus, he said.

Metro Transit officials were readjusting bus schedules for the event, with detours and delays expected around campus and an increase in buses running some high-traffic routes to and from the event, said spokesman Mick Rusch.

A different sort of bus, this one full of protesters on a national "Obama's Failing Agenda" tour, will be in town to protest the president's visit, the conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity announced Monday.

Obama's last visit cost local taxpayers about $260,000. Madison police, who staffed the event with about 300 officers for security and crowd control, were hardest hit at a total of $185,543. That's up from about $117,000 for Obama's Nov. 4, 2009, visit to Wright Middle School.

UW-Madison and the Obama campaign are working on a contract to cover the university's costs for hosting the president, Sweeney said.

Free and open to the public

Thursday's event is free and open to the public although attendees must preregister online or in person.

The entry gate will be at Linden Drive and North Charter Street. All those who enter will be screened by a metal detector.

The route of Obama's motorcade on Thursday, which will cause more street closures, has not been released.

Here's what to bring and not to bring:

• Small cameras and cellphones are permitted.

• Do not bring large bags, including backpacks, large purses and suitcases.

• Weapons, sharp objects and umbrellas will not be permitted.

• Water bottles and food are not permitted. Water will be provided inside the event.

• Signs will not be permitted.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Baldwin of Madison is expected to be among the speakers at the event.

"Doors" open at noon.

Wait a minute!

Rain is in the forecast.

We know that Obama's acceptance speech in Charlotte was supposed to be held outside at Bank of America Stadium but was cancelled a day in advance, because of the weather.

Obama's team allegedly didn't want to put people in danger, even though the chance of severe weather was very slim.

Perhaps the Obama rally in Madison should be moved indoors, too.

I wonder if Obama will adopt a Wisconsin accent during his remarks, to relate to the crowd. I think it would be unfair of him not to try.

Which Obama will speak in Madison? Choom Gang Obama?

Will he use any composite characters to move his speech along?

I hope Obama doesn't talk about Mitt Romney screwing middle class taxpayers. They'll be picking up the bill for his rally. In reality, he's the one doing the screwing.

Will the Apollo Theater Obama show up and sing?

The suspense is killing me.