In 2004, Chenelle Heren voted to re-elect Republican President Bush and even campaigned for him.

Now the 21-year-old UW-Madison junior from Eau Claire is supporting Democrat Barack Obama after hearing the Illinois senator tell a crowd of 17,000 at the Kohl Center that he would end political divisions and unite the country.

"I'm more conservative and Obama has definitely expanded my horizons," Heren said. "He's opened my eyes and ears to a lot of things. I believe what he says."

Riding a wave of eight straight primary and caucus victories in recent weeks, including Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia on Tuesday, Obama turned to Wisconsin voters shortly after the polls closed there. He asked the raucous crowd — and 2,000 more people in an overflow room — to continue the streak during next Tuesday's primary to propel him toward the Democratic nomination.

"We've won in the East and West, in the North and South and across the heartland of this country," Obama said. "This is our moment. This is our time, and where better to affirm our ideals than Wisconsin, where a century ago the Progressive movement was born?"

Instead of focusing on his Democratic opponent, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama spoke sharply against the Iraq war and Republican Sen. John McCain.

Obama called McCain "an American hero" for his military service but criticized his support for the war in Iraq and for tax cuts for the rich.

He promised to unite Democrats, Republicans and independents to improve access to health care, save the jobs of working people and protect Social Security.

Appealing to the predominantly college-age crowd, Obama said he would provide a $4,000 tuition credit in exchange for community service.

"We'll invest in you; you invest in us," he said.

'Moment in history'

Alphonso Cooper, 56, an equal employment specialist for Dane County, said he would vote for Obama. "This is a moment in history I can't pass up," said Cooper, of Fitchburg. "I want to be able to tell my grandchildren I was on the right side of history."

"Cloud nine for the rest of the week" is how Alix Tarnowksy, 21, a UW-Madison junior from Darien, Conn., described her feelings after leaving the speech. "It's the best experience I've had in my life."

Mark Jefferson, executive director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, derided Obama, saying in a statement that Wisconsin voters shouldn't "be fooled by Barack Obama's superficial rhetoric. ... He simply lacks the experience necessary to be commander-in-chief. Voting 'present' on important issues on the floor of the Illinois state Legislature and passing a single bill in the U.S. Senate does not make him qualified to be president."

UW-Madison police said there were no major incidents, but five people were ejected for disruptive behavior and one person was taken to a hospital.

Campaign plans

Obama plans to campaign today in Racine, Waukesha and Janesville — where his campaign said he would give an address on the economy — and in Green Bay on Friday before taking part in a Democratic Party dinner in Milwaukee on Saturday.

Clinton isn't scheduled to campaign in Wisconsin until Saturday. But she'll be in the state from then through the morning of the election, according to her campaign.

"We look forward to having Senator Clinton in Wisconsin to speak with families here about the issues that matter most to them," said Heather Colburn, Wisconsin Campaign Organizing Director.

Clinton's husband, former President Clinton, is scheduled to visit Madison, Milwaukee and La Crosse on Thursday.

McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, said he will campaign in Wisconsin on Friday. Like Obama, McCain won the three "Potomac Primaries" on Tuesday. His main remaining challenger, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, will arrive in the state tonight for three days and is scheduled to be in Madison on Thursday.

McCain is likely to build on his commanding lead for the 1,191 delegates needed to win the nomination, though Huckabee has pledged give him a fierce challenge.

Close race

Obama and Clinton are locked in a race for the 92 delegates Wisconsin voters will add to the 2,025 needed to secure the party nomination. After Tuesday, Obama has 1,223 delegates and Clinton has 1,198, according to The Associated Press.

Neither candidate will secure enough delegates to end the campaign here, state Democrate Party Chairman Joe Wineke said, but the winner will gain momentum heading into the primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont on March 4.

"There is an excitement in this state among Democrats that in my 51 years of life I haven't seen before," said Wineke. He had endorsed former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who dropped out of the race.

Charles Franklin, a UW-Madison political science professor, said Obama got a jump on Clinton in Wisconsin by starting ads last week and appearing here first.

"You'd think Clinton ought to be aiming at Wisconsin for the last chance to win one and go into the Texas and Ohio races on a roll," Franklin said. "So I'm more surprised they're not more active here in events and advertising."

Clinton, who has discounted her chances of winning Wisconsin, started ads Tuesday. Carly Lindauer, Clinton's Wisconsin spokeswoman, said Clinton has developed a strong volunteer network and will work hard to win the state.

"She's obviously made it clear the state is important," Lindauer said. "That's why we're here doing what we're doing."