MILWAUKEE — Governor Deval Patrick strolled into campaign offices here, shaking hands, posing for pictures, and cracking jokes with about two dozen volunteers in a room ­papered with a map of Milwaukee and ­“Wisconsin for Obama” signs.

“It’s a character election, not just the character of the candidates, but the character of the country,” Patrick told the room. “And are we going to be a country where we all have common cause and common destinies? Or are we going to be what is on offer from the other side: Just this idea that everyone is on their own, good luck. I think we’re better than that.”