Michelle Obama addresses crowd in Kansas City
Her speech gave emphasis on Missouri's position as a swing state.
Oct. 3, 2008
Michelle Obama, presidential candidate Barack Obama's wife, speaks to a large crowd at a rally Wednesday in downtown Kansas City. Republican presidential nominee John McCain also made a stop in Missouri on Wednesday, speaking at the Truman Presidential Library and Museum.
Supporters packed the streets and hung off balconies to catch a glimpse of Michelle Obama campaigning for her husband at a rally Wednesday in Kansas City.
Michelle Obama, standing in front of an American flag that hung across the entire street, addressed a crowd that stretched almost three blocks in the city's 18th and Vine district.
"This is amazing, just amazing," she said. "Did you all look behind you? Did you see all the folks down there?"
Michelle Obama spoke outside of the American Jazz Museum, down the street from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The street was festooned with paraphernalia from the presidential campaign of her husband, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
U.S Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., a former mayor of Kansas City, was one of the politicians in attendance who introduced Michelle Obama.
"To win Missouri is to win the White House," Cleaver said. "We've got to win Missouri."
Cleaver went on to say Barack Obama is the only candidate who will bring the country together to solve crises.
"Barack Obama has brought all kinds of people into the campaign, people who have never been involved in politics before," he said. "That's the kind of person we need in Washington."
When Michelle Obama took the stage, she began her speech by discussing how the campaign is bringing people together.
"We have seen so many new young people come out to join this campaign," she said. "We've also seen some not so young folks. We gotta hear it for the not so young folks."
Michelle Obama also commented on the importance of this election.
"We are at a critical junction at this point in our nation where we have the opportunity to do some important things," she said.
She focused her speech on issues that relate to the average family, such as jobs, education and health care.
"I don't care what your race or your socioeconomic background is, we are all feeling it now," she said, referring to the economic crisis.
Michelle Obama said she knows her husband could help solve the crisis because he puts others before himself.
"Instead of doing what would help him, he goes for what would help others," she said.
Michelle Obama also stressed the importance of registering to vote and persuading others to register.
"We have to talk seriously about voter registration," she said. "Some people don't know that if you don't register, you can't vote. It's our job to make sure they register."
There were several volunteers at the rally registering attendees to vote.
"Because Missouri is what we call a swing state, it can change the election across the country," Michelle Obama said. "That's why everyone here should register."
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