Michelle Obama Stumps For Clinton At La Salle University
By Pat Loeb, Greg Argos
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has sent some high-powered campaigners to the Philadelphia area to help win Pennsylvania's prized electoral votes. Two weeks ago, it was President Obama. On Wednesday, it was Michelle Obama.
The First Lady spoke to a group of more than 3,000 students, faculty and staff at La Salle University urging people to register to vote.
"I am thrilled to be here today to support the next President and Vice President of the United States, Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine," said Obama.
The enthusiastic crowd packed the Tom Gola Arena to hear Mrs. Obama's endorsement of Clinton.
"There is only one person in this race who we can trust with those responsibilities, only one person with the qualifications and temperament," she said.
Though the audience seemed already convinced, the First Lady made it her job to see they act on it.
"We need you to get yourself and everyone you know registered to vote and then we need you to roll up your sleeves. We need you to make calls, knock on doors, get folks out to vote on election day," Mrs. Obama said. "Each of you could swing an entire precinct and win this election for Hillary just by getting yourself, your friends, your family out to vote."
Such vigorous campaigning by a First Lady, for her husband's would-be successor, is rare. She also visited Pittsburgh and appears in a new campaign ad.
Clinton needs a big win in Philadelphia to take the state. Though polls put her comfortably ahead here, the campaign says they'll run like their ten points behind, right up to election day.
"If you vote for someone other than Hillary Clinton or if you don't vote at all you're helping to elect Hillary's opponent," Mrs. Obama told the crowd.
Obama did not mention Clinton's opponent, Donald Trump, by name at all during her speech, but she was able to speak to the crowd about why she believes he would not be a good choice this November.
"We know being president isn't anything like reality TV," said the First Lady. "It is not an apprenticeship and it is not just about fiery speeches or insulting tweets."
The Trump campaign says Clinton is "in panic mode" in Pennsylvania because of the Republican candidate's improved numbers in the polls and what they say is her disconnect with millennials and African-American voters.
