A Quarter of a Thousand Show Up to See President Kerry in Liberal Madison

What a difference four years makes. In 2004, with the aid of Bruce Springsteen, 80,000 people showed up to a John Kerry rally in Madison, WI. Four years later - a whopping 250:

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Sen. John Kerry returned to the site of one of his biggest rallies four years ago without rock star Bruce Springsteen beside him or the rock star-sized crowds that greeted them.

Kerry's message was decidedly different, too, urging a group of Barack Obama supporters to vote absentee before Election Day during a 20-minute speech on the state Capitol steps.

"I'm excited to be back here, not withstanding the fact that the Boss isn't here," the Massachusetts Democrat said at Tuesday's event, one of four he held across the state to promote absentee voting.

On the other side of the Capitol five days before the 2004 election, Kerry appeared with Springsteen for what observers called one of the state's greatest political rallies.

As many as 80,000 people crowded streets and front porches to rock out and hear the man they hoped would defeat President Bush.

The event helped Kerry beat Bush in Wisconsin by 11,000 votes but he narrowly lost the election nationwide. Kerry thanked Madison voters for having the "common sense" to back his candidacy and embrace the issues he fought for.

This time instead of Springsteen, a local band warmed up the crowd before Kerry was introduced to about 250 people by an 18-year-old high school student.

Bottom line - those big rock star rallies don't necessarily translate into winning elections, as President Kerry will confirm.