Fresh Off the Debate, Biden Campaigns in La Crosse

A day after debating Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan, Vice President Joe Biden addressed an estimated 2000 people in a packed hall on the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus.

Biden’s energy seemed to carry over from the previous night's debate against Ryan. Biden spent much of his speech comparing the differences between him and the congressman from Janesville.

Biden talked about tax policies, ending the war in Afghanistan, and empowering the middle class. The crowd seemed to make the most noise as Biden touched on women’s issues. “Barack Obama and Joe Biden are absolutely, positively, firmly committed to ensuring that our daughters and my granddaughters have the exact same rights and opportunities to control their lives as my sons and my grandsons," he said.  "Exact same rights. Make no mistake about that!”

After the speech, retired teacher Malita Hanson of Tomah said she’s glad the vice president reiterated his stance on the War in Afghanistan.  “It’s clear what their point is, we’re out of there," she said.  "We don’t want another war or a sustained war.”

And Viterbo University student Dylan Klein says after hearing Biden speak, he feels the Democratic ticket is stronger. “He sticks his foot in his mouth it seems like a lot lately," he said.  "After that debate, he just changed the pace.”

This was Biden’s eighth trip to Wisconsin as vice president. Republican Paul Ryan will be in Waukesha on Monday for a rally.