The Democratic Party of Wisconsin held the 10th annual Eleanor Roosevelt Tribute Wednesday night to honor Democratic women for their leadership and to bolster enthusiasm for the election.
Keynote speakers included Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards.
Many say the next president is going to face the biggest challenges, he's going to have a tall order, he's going to have to deal with the economy, he's going to have to deal with the war, he's going to have to deal with a sense of fear and hopelessness,"" Napolitano said.
She called for a change from the last eight years and said this year's Democratic presidential ticket has the ability to restore America.
""We have the ticket to get it done '¦ let's get it done,"" Napolitano said.
Richards said President George Bush's policy of abstinence-only education has resulted in the U.S. leading the western industrial world in unintended pregnancies and teen pregnancies, claiming Bush does not understand women's health.
She said women are going to be ""reaching out to our mothers '¦ sisters ... and daughters"" to go to the polls and elect Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
""To me there could be no finer woman to inherit the mantle of Eleanor Roosevelt than Michelle Obama,"" Richards said.
According to Klobuchar, Wisconsin is key for Obama's victory, but voters should also pay attention to the Senate races that could change which bills are passed in Congress.
Before handing out awards to the four recipients, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton said Obama's platform is the strongest for women the country has ever seen.
Award winners were Rebecca Young, a former representative in the state Assembly, Dawn Martin, treasurer of the Milwaukee County Democratic Party, Jessica King, the only woman on the Oshkosh City Council and Meagan MaHaffey, campaign director for Advancing Wisconsin.
