MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Over 26-thousand young people attended President Obama’s rally at UW-Madison Tuesday evening.

It was all about firing up those who helped Obama get elected in 2008 – and recapturing excitement for Democrats after a recent poll showed that Republicans were twice as likely to vote in November.

Obama told the crowd not to let its disappointment lead to apathy, and, “Change is going to come – stick with me – you can’t lose hope.”

University Police said 17,000 filled the Library Mall. 9,000 others stood in adjacent areas. And a line to get into the event was over a mile long before the place filled up.

U.S. Senate Democrat Russ Feingold unexpectedly appeared, saying the Senate’s business ended early Tuesday. Republicans have criticized him for trying to run away from the president and his low approval ratings. Feingold, who’s in a tough re-election battle, called the “enthusiasm gap” among Democrats a myth.

The GOP called Tuesday’s event a desperate effort to re-capture energy from the presidential race in order to avoid massive Democratic losses in Congress and statehouses in November.

Before the event, Obama made a surprise stop at Madison La Follette High School. He spoke to the football, volleyball, and girls’ tennis teams and told them to work hard. Obama also told the football team to avoid the mental mistakes made by the Packers in their loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday night.