Christie Vilsack stopped by Lucullan’s Italian Grill on Main Street in Ames to thank supporters and make a final campaign address Monday, Nov. 5.  

Approximately 20 people were awaiting Vilsack’s arrival, and some showed their support outside the restaurant, sporting campaign signs and applauding.

Vilsack originally planned to come to the Memorial Union but after many location changes ended up coming to Lucullan’s, where Obama supporters were making final election calls and looking for more volunteers.

A large crew accompanied Vilsack, including campaign staff and family members such as her husband, former Gov. Tom Vilsack, and son Doug Vilsack.

Vilsack greeted those in attendance and moved to address the media and answer questions. She stressed her constant campaign slogan, saying: “I want to be a problem solver, not a partisan fighter. … I just want to make sure I continue to ask people for their vote.”

Along with encouraging people to vote, Vilsack said this election would be making Iowa history if she were elected: Vilsack would be the first woman to represent Iowa in Congress. Her election also would make Iowa the 45th state to elect a woman to the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I’ve wanted to make history ever since I was in fifth grade,” Vilsack said

Vilsack then addressed ISU students more directly. As a teacher for 38 years, Vilsack’s campaign has focused a lot of attention on students and education in Iowa.

Vilsack plans to work on creating more jobs for college students in Iowa, encouraging them to remain in-state after graduation. She said she felt students were stuck choosing between going far away for college or going straight to the work force after high school, and she wants to create more jobs in Iowa for college graduates.

“College students need to be thinking about their own future,” Vilsack said, in reference to the election Tuesday.  “The very best jobs are going to be right here.”