Thousands flock to Fiserv Forum to attend Kamala Harris rally in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Thousands of people lined up outside Fiserv Forum Tuesday, Aug. 20, hours before the doors opened to see Democratic nominee for president Kamala Harris speak. 

Enthusiasm is exactly what Democrats have been celebrating at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago this week and beyond. Attendees said there's a new energy and excitement for a ticket that the party did not have when President Joe Biden was the presumptive nominee. 

At the rally, Harris told the capacity crowd, "So Wisconsin, we have 77 days until the election, 77 days, and look, we know this is going to be a tight race until the very end. We have some hard work ahead of us. We have hard work ahead of us but we like hard work, hard work is good work."

The event started with a DJ dance party, then the packed house settled in to watch the DNC roll call on the big screens.

VP nominee Tim Walz then came out first to speak to the crowd.

He said, "These guys are focused on the past, like the 1850s past. This campaign is focused on your future."

After Walz left the stage the audience watched more of the DNC. When the celebratory roll call wrapped up in Chicago, Harris was introduced in Milwaukee.

She said, "Do we believe in opportunity? Do we believe in the promise of America? And are we ready to fight for it? And when we fight, we win."

Democrats have said there's a new energy in recent weeks, and it was on full display Tuesday.

Julie Tenpas of Milwaukee told us she was not planning to vote when President Biden was at the top of the ticket, but that has since changed. Tenpas said, "I said that if we had a different candidate, I would run, I would door knock. I'm very happy to have new representation, fresh representation."

Clarice Noel of Racine told us the historic nature of Harris' candidacy made an impact on her. "As a woman of color, it's great to see. I'm very excited. Honestly, I wasn't going to vote before this because 'eh I may not even vote.' Now I'm really excited. I have my mom out here with me."

We asked Jamie Wright of Milwaukee what she thinks this election is about. She told us, "I'm going to get choked up. It's about saving our rights, definitely mostly saving our democracy."

Katie Draeger of Cedarburg told us, "I felt like the last few months I definitely took more of a head in the sand approach because I didn't like the way things were going. But I didn't want to go in any other direction either. So my head is finally out of the sand and I'm very excited to see what the next few months bring. And I'm very excited about this ticket."

The campaign said they've seen a record number of volunteer signups, and there are currently 48 campaign offices throughout Wisconsin. 

Some people got in line outside Fiserv Forum at 6 a.m., hoping to get a front row seat to the rally. They told us they like what they've heard so far from the Harris-Walz campaign.

"I think I've heard it the last two weeks. But I think it's going to be good to hear it in person. To be there and see her," said Dana Mattice.