An organizer for tomorrow's Tax Day Tea Party at Capitol Square expects thousands of people will be on hand to salute the grassroots conservative movement.
"If it's a day like today, we should get 4,000 to 5,000," says Mark Block, an organizer with . "It's very difficult to judge because it'll be in the middle of the day on a work day."
The marquee speaker for the event is former Gov. Tommy Thompson, who is considering a run for U.S. Senate against Russ Feingold. However, the latest reports suggest Thompson will use the occasion to announce he won't challenge Feingold.
The rally runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Capitol lawn. Last year's tax day rally drew 2,500 to 3,500 people, according to Capitol police.
"What I hope to accomplish is the same thing on April 15 last year, which is to give citizens of Wisconsin a chance to let their representatives hear them," Block says. "And it's a salute to the Tea Party movement. We're real people: rich, poor, black and white."
Other speakers include Block, conservative talk show host Vicki McKenna, Linda Hansen of Wisconsin Prosperity Network, Pat Snyder of WSAU Radio, Paul Kern of WRJN Radio, Tim Dake of Wisconsin Grandsons of Liberty, Kim Simac of Northwoods Patriots, Michael Dean of First Freedoms Foundation, David King of the Milwaukee God Squad, Ron Johnson of the Oshkosh Tea Party, and Larry Gamble of the Oath Keepers.
Supporters of Sen. Feingold are also expected to put in an appearance. The Madison campaign bureau says they plan to gather at Feingold's office, on West Mifflin Street by the Central Library, at 10:30 a.m. They plan to march up to the Capitol and show their support for the Democratic Senator in a "non-confrontational" manner.