MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WFRV)-- Ann Romney tried to appeal to women voters during her first campaign speech in Wisconsin on Thursday.

The wife of republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney addressed a group of about 700 supporters at Marquette University.

"As governor, half of Mitt's staff were women, and some of them are here right now," said Romney.

Ann Romney has not been as familiar of a face on the campaign trail, especially in Wisconsin, but poll numbers show her husband may need her help to attract women.

According to the latest report from the Pew Center President Obama has a 19 point lead over Mitt Romney with registered women voters.

"We know he cares about women, he cares about making the economy good for women, and he cares that these past four years have been the most difficult for women," said Romney.  

"Do you know that more women have become unemployed then men in the past 4 years, do you also know that more women have fallen into poverty in the last years, I know."

Romney attempted to appeal to the crowds emotions and showed a more personal side of her husband. She told a story about a terminally ill boy named David who asked Mitt to give his eulogy.

"David was planning his funeral, this is where it gets me he said Mitt I know who I want to speak at my eulogy, Mitt I want you to speak at my funeral and Mitt did," said Romney.

"How amazing is that, that this to me is how we measure a person, is that we care for one another."

Romney was decked out in Marquette apparel and surrounded by Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and First Lady of Wisconsin Tonette Walker. Her speech lasted just over 10 minutes.

"Mitt is running to make sure all of those dreamers all of those people who are working so hard know that the next generation, the promise of America will always be there for them," said Romney.

The crowd was a mix of students, women and men. Jan Gamberdine and her husband came all the way from Woodridge, Ill. to see Romney speak.

"I thought it was a great speech, I think she's trying to relate that her husband," said Gamberdine, "I liked the statistics she gave about women being unemployed and women."

A group of 35 University of Wisconsin Madison students in the Young Republicans group took a bus to the rally.

"I definitely saw a lot of people moved to tears with the one personal story she told," said Brooke Stevens a UW Madison students,  "I think she did a really good job of relating to everyone there men and women and really expressed Romney's compassion for people."

A group of protesters lined the streets before and during the rally, their message "we are the 47 percent Mitt Romney doesn't care about," in response to the remarks heard on the now infamous hidden video.

From Wisconsin, Ann Romney was headed to a rally later on Thursday in Iowa. Meanwhile her husband campaigned in Ohio, while Paul Ryan was in Florida.