FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

DULUTH-Dr. Jill Biden makes a campaign stop at the Duluth Labor Temple on Saturday. The second lady is the first person directly involved with the major party presidential campaigns to make a stop in the Northland.

The visit comes less than three weeks before election day.

She started her comments in "Wellstone Hall" with a tribute to the late senator who was killed a decade ago to the week. She called him a personal friend and a defender of issues that democrats still fight for.

A career–teacher, the wife of the Vice President Joe Biden went on to talk about positive changes in education that have been made during her husband's first term in office.

"We've doubled funding for the Pell Grants for those of you who have kids who are using Pell Grants to go to school or maybe you're here yourself on the Pell Grant. We've reformed the student loan process to make it easier to pay back student loans," Biden said.

These successes are dependent on volunteers like Joel Heller – a Duluthian and Gulf War Veteran – who's now on the front lines of the campaign, Biden said.

"For two times this year...," Hiller said,"...and only two because I blew out my shoe, I knocked 515 doors for the president and 525 for our next congressman, Rick Nolan."

8th District Congressional Candidate Rick Nolan was a featured speaker alongside Biden.

"And the fact is that until the Obama/Biden team came to the White House, why, the rich were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer and the middle class was getting crushed," Nolan said.

"I just want to take this moment to commend you for so many things but not the least of which is the work you've done in community colleges," Nolan said.

Another issue Biden hammered was her goal to increase welfare and other support for returning veterans.

"Because our son went to Iraq one month before we were elected and my one wish was that President Obama was going to end that war in Iraq and he kept his promise and he ended that war," Biden said.

"It is like my mom talking to me when I was overseas," Heller said. "She cares, living and dying each phone call that comes in. She can relate so much to what we have to go through."

Biden ended her visit by thanking canvassers, adding that the presidential race will be a close one.

"So it's all of you that are going to take us forward on November 6th. You're working so hard. Thank you for your commitment and thank you for being here today," Biden said.

U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-Minnesota) could not be reached for comment on Saturday but his staff reports he was campaigning in the Brainerd area and is planning stops in Duluth and the Iron Range during the next few days.

U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachmann's campaign team did tweet this after an event held today:

"Pleased to speak in support of my friend and colleague Chip Cravaack".

Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan spent his time on Saturday criticizing President Obama's energy policies at a rally in Eastern Ohio.

Ryan claims federal policies directed by the President means the country will need to close coal plant and raise gas prices.

"The president has been ducking these issues, blaming other people, playing partisan politics. He's running a small campaign based on small ideas. He's trying to distract people," the Congressman said.

"He's trying to distort our record. He's trying to hope that you don't pay attention to the reality in front of us so that he can win this election by default," Ryan said.

Ryan has been campaigning in Ohio all week.