Tammy Baldwin makes outstate push appearing alongside Bernie Sanders at Eau Claire rally

Bill Glauber | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

EAU CLAIRE - For Democrats looking to reverse their fortunes in northern and rural parts of the state, there's apparently nothing like "feeling the Bern."

Independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont appeared alongside Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin early Saturday, imploring around 1,000 supporters to get to work to carry her to re-election in the fall.

"All across this country, we are seeing people standing up and fighting back," Sanders told the crowd.

Sanders touted Baldwin as one of the nation's "smartest, hardest-working and progressive senators."

Sanders said ideas he espoused during his 2016 presidential campaign, such as working to make college tuition-free, are now in the mainstream.

"Tammy and I and a strong majority of the American people now believe the time is right for a Medicare for all" single-payer health care system, Sanders said.

Sounding like he may be warming up for another presidential run, Sanders called President Donald Trump a "pathological liar" and said Republicans were trying to pay for tax cuts by cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Cheers rang out after an audience member yelled, "You should be our president Bernie."

Later Saturday, Sanders headlined a rally in Janesville for congressional candidate Randy Bryce.

Bryce is vying with Janesville School Board member Cathy Myers for the Democratic nomination to claim the seat now held by House Speaker Paul Ryan, who is retiring.

In her speech, Baldwin leaned into her opposition to Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh.

RELATED: Tammy Baldwin to oppose U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh

"After reviewing the nominee's record, it's crystal clear that powerful special interests in Washington selected Judge Brett Kavanaugh to work on the Supreme Court for them," Baldwin said.

"We cannot afford the nominee to serve as the deciding vote on the Supreme Court to allow employers to deny their workers health insurance coverage for birth control," she said.

She also raised the possibility of the court weighing in on health insurance coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, Roe vs. Wade, environmental standards and "vital constitutional rights and freedoms for all Americans."

"If you hope that the Supreme Court is going to overturn Citizens United anytime soon, don't hold your breath," she said.

"I'm voting no," she declared of the Kavanaugh nomination, "and I'm going to need your help in this fight."

The Eau Claire stop was another sign that the Baldwin campaign is trying to learn from Democratic setbacks in 2016, when Trump and Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson were powered to victories in Wisconsin by strong showings in the northern and rural parts of the state.

The Baldwin campaign is focusing on outstate counties that voted for her in 2012 and for Trump in 2016, using appeals for "Buy American" legislation, combating opioids and helping dairy farmers.

Baldwin's campaign also has aired TV ads in the Green Bay, Wausau, Eau Claire and La Crosse markets.

In the areas outside of Milwaukee and Madison, Baldwin's campaign will have more than 20 full-time staffers to organize waves of volunteers knocking on doors and calling voters, along with more than 50 teams of volunteers dotted through rural communities.

Baldwin will need to do well outstate in the fall. State Sen. Leah Vukmir of Brookfield and Delafield businessman Kevin Nicholson are vying for the Republican nomination in the Aug. 14 primary.

In a tweet, Vukmir ripped Baldwin for the appearance, saying that she was "'showing her true colors campaigning with avowed socialist Bernie Sanders."

"She tries to paint herself out to be a moderate, but we know the truth," Vukmir said.

.@TammyBaldwin is showing her true colors campaigning with avowed socialist @BernieSanders. She tries to paint herself out to be a moderate, but we know the truth. #wisen #wiright https://t.co/q0CGLz3bIB — Leah Vukmir (@LeahVukmir) July 14, 2018

Nicholson said in a statement and tweet that Baldwin's "socialized medicine plan, concocted by Bernie Sanders, ranks right up there in terms of bad ideas with Baldwin's $10-billion-a-year Department of Peace Plan."

"Baldwin's not living in reality," he said, "and her proud association with Sanders proves she's a wannabe socialist."

.@tammybaldwin’s government-run socialized medicine plan, concocted by @BernieSanders, ranks right up there in terms of bad ideas with Baldwin’s $10B a year Dept of Peace plan. They’re not living in reality, & Baldwin’s rally with Sanders proves she’s a wannabe socialist. #WISen https://t.co/ewLxnGdoYo — Kevin Nicholson (@KevinMNicholson) July 14, 2018

Rally-goers said they were enthusiastic about Baldwin's chances in the fall.

"I think people in Wisconsin have had enough with what is going in the United States right now," said Katie Petska, 39, a nonprofit executive from Eau Claire.

Brian Schwechel, 44, of Eau Claire, said there is an eagerness among Democrats in the area to be part of a so-called blue wave in the fall.

"I think the last year and a half has been so bad, people have to come out and make a change," he said. "The only way they can do that is to come out and go vote."

"The political world right now is crazy," said Kelley Farber, 46, a nurse practitioner from Eau Claire. "We have to participate and generate excitement."