President Obama to visit Madison Nov. 4

October 27, 10:31 PMMadison Political Buzz ExaminerPeggy Williams

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 President Obama 2009 [AP/Steven Senne]

President Barack Obama is planning a visit to Madison, Wisconsin on Wednesday, November 4 to speak about education reform.

According to local media reports, the announcement was made by the Whitehouse and confirmed by the Dane County Sheriff’s Department. However, no additional information has been released.

There’s lots of speculation, however. The Wisconsin State Journal mentioned that the news “coincided…with Gov. Jim Doyle unveiling a bill that would establish mayoral control over Milwaukee Public Schools.” Milwaukee’s Mayor Tom Barrett is considered a possible contender in the race for governor in Wisconsin. It has been reported that the White House may be interested in backing Barrett if he agrees to run.

The Republican Party of Wisconsin’s blog stated today that “Barrett is involved in an unpopular quest for a mayoral takeover of the troubled Milwaukee Public Schools and needs the Legislature to get behind his quest for control. He’s also rumored to be Governor Doyle’s hand-picked successor to carry out Doyle’s third term. So we’re not surprised they’re inviting Obama to rally the troops.”

However, state Democratic Party chairman Mike Tate sounded just as surprised as the local media. “All I know is that it has to do with education,” Tate told the Wisconsin State Journal. Then he went on to say that he was waiting for more information to find out what type of role the state Party would have in the Presidential visit.

The visit will be on the one year anniversary of Obama’s election to the Presidency in 2008.  The last time Obama was in Madison was in February of 2008, during the campaign, when he spoke to an enthusiastic full house at the Kohl Center.  The President held a Town Hall meeting in Green Bay on June 11th of this year to discuss health care.

Neither a specific time nor a location for next Wednesday's speech has been determined. Check back for more information.