RACINE - Two decades after following his father on the campaign trail through southeastern Wisconsin, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. returned to the area Wednesday to rally supporters of another presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

Jackson Jr., the national co-chairman of Obama's campaign, told members of the press he was sent here because Wisconsin could be a critical state in the election and Obama "does not take for granted how important every vote in this contest is."

The gathering was held at Obama campaign headquarters in Racine inside the old Historic Century Market building, 522 Sixth St.

Jackson Jr. said he remembers meeting with striking auto workers in Kenosha during campaign stops with his father, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who ran for president in 1984 and 1988.

The elder Jackson has been an outspoken civil rights activist, but Jackson Jr., a Democrat from Obama's home state of Illinois, said Obama has directed campaign staff not to dwell on race.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Obama's opponent, has questioned whether Obama has the experience to lead the country. McCain has spent 26 years in Congress to Obama's four, but Jackson Jr. said a person's judgment should be the true key to the White House.

"Both have the same experience as president of the United States: none," he said. "It's all on-the-job training."

In remarks to Obama supporters, Jackson Jr. called the Republican nominee "McSame," an attempt to link McCain to President Bush. Jackson Jr. touched on a timely issue, saying Obama plans to support a plan for the federal government to rescue foundering investment firms but also wants to "ensure that basic homeowners … are not left out of the process."

After the speech, volunteers were sent to specific neighborhoods to pass out literature and register voters. Racine residents Eric Wentorf, Marlisa Plunkett and Craymond Douglas went door to door on Center Street. Wentorf said a short training course allowed him to fill out registration forms, which eventually end up at City Hall.

An occupant of one home declined, saying he doesn't have permanent citizenship. At another door, a large pit bull lunged toward the window, but no one answered. Then 18-year-old Unique McGee passed on the street and asked if she could register. At 17, Takoya Barber can't yet vote but said she plans to get a shirt airbrushed with Obama's image.

Another man said he had wanted to register but had been too busy. But the volunteers said they encounter more obstacles than time.

"I can't vote," one passer-by told Plunkett. "I'm on paper."

By law, convicted felons who are out of prison cannot vote if they are still on probation, or "paper." Plunkett said on a previous canvassing trip she came across nearly 20 black men who had similar stories.

"That stayed on my mind," she said. "That's why I got back out here, to make up for those."

U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.

AGE: 43

OFFICE: U.S. House since 1995

REPRESENTS: Parts of Chicago's south side

NOTABLE: Drives a Segway in Washington

WEB SITE: http://www.jessejacksonjr.org/