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Michelle Obama speaks at Ohio State
Michelle Obama told more than 500 supporters at Ohio State University that her husband, Democrat Barack Obama, has the character, values and experience that America needs in the White House.
“The only person in this race who has the chance of getting us where we need to be is Barack Obama. Barack gets it,” she said.
She said with his academic credentials, Barack Obama could have gone to Wall Street to make a ton of money but opted instead to be a community organizer in tough Chicago neighborhoods, a constitutional lawyer in a small firm and later a state lawmaker who worked on ethics reform, children’s health care and tax breaks for low-income families. She trumpeted his experience living abroad, saying he understands other cultures.
“Imagine a president of the United States who understands global poverty because he lived in it. Imagine a president of the United States who understands how this nation affects small villages in places like Africa, not because he’s received a policy briefing but because he has a grandmother who lives in one of those little villages,” Mrs. Obama said. “See that’s what we get with Barack Obama.”
While his opponent, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, touts her experience, Mrs. Obama said, “We have the evidence right here, right now, of what kind of leader he will be, what kind of choices he will make - not just when you’re watching him but what will he do when you’re not.”
Mrs. Obama, 44, an Ivy League educated lawyer and mother of two daughters, recounted her “regular folk” upbringing in working class south side Chicago. The daughter of a blue-collar worker and a stay-at-home mom, Mrs. Obama gave credit to her parents and solid public schools for her opportunities and successes as an adult.
She also recounted her husband’s fight from underdog to lead dog in the presidential campaign, saying he overcame naysayers and pundits. But she warned there is more work to be done to secure his victory.
“Barack will be the underdog until he is sitting in the Oval Office,” she said.
Mrs. Obama told a story about meeting a 10-year-old girl at a rally in South Carolina.
“I need to tell you something,” the girl told Mrs. Obama.
“Okay,” Mrs. Obama replied.
“Do you realize that after your husband becomes the next president of the United States it will be historical?” the girl informed her.
“Yeah,” Mrs. Obama told her. “But what does that mean to you?”
“It means I can imagine anything for myself,” the girl said, breaking down in tears.
Mrs. Obama told the crowd Friday that the girl understands what’s at stake and needs hopes and dreams. “Hope and inspiration matter because you don’t get anywhere without it.”
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