Gonna be at least 12000 in the dome-(or maybe capacity which is a lot more)...thats about the entire population of Marquette! They spread the tickets out so people from all over the UP could get in though..and rightly so. I bet the man will take a quik trip back after he sees this crowd, or at least send Dick on in to shore up the support. I'd love to see the VP as well. I'd love to see 18000 in that place, she'd be busting at the seams!
So, iirc, the last prez to visit the UP was Taft? Some people may not know how remote the area is. Two hundred miles due north of Green Bay through forests, and an occasional small town.
I am not sure if you can look at it as strictly a political calculation. Maybe they just figured you all are as American as anyone else and you deserved some attention for once.