Michelle Obama, the wife of Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, spoke at an “Early Vote for Change” rally around noon on Oct. 11 at the Pensacola Civic Center, and encouraged a crowd of about 6,500 people to vote early and for Barack Obama.
“We want you to march over, vote early today, put your sticker on and then commit to getting at least five or ten people to the polls on Election Day,” she said.
During her 30-minute speech, Michelle Obama said it’s important that people vote early, because they might be unable to vote on Election Day. She said if people vote early, they also will be able to volunteer to help others vote on Nov. 4.
Michelle Obama also said that people should take advantage of their right to vote, because they don’t have to rely on another person to decide which issues to correct. She said it doesn’t matter which candidate someone chooses to vote for, but they need to vote.
She said the election will be close, regardless of what polls portray, and that she and her husband act as if they are always 20 points down.
“Barack Obama is the underdog until he is sitting in the Oval Office,” Michelle Obama said. “We have to get into the White House.”
Early voting is the next step to get Barack Obama elected president, she said. Michelle Obama said he has made it 85 percent of the way, but supporters’ votes are needed to get him the rest of the way.
“He needs you now, not just to win, but he’s going to need you to lead; because Barack says that change doesn’t happen from the top down,” she said. “The change that we need happens from the bottom up.”
To make a point that Barack Obama “gets it,” Michelle Obama shared the struggles that the couple faced in the past, by telling stories about their sick parents who didn’t have adequate health care and were grateful just to have jobs that allowed them to care for their
families.
“I come here as a wife who has watched her husband grow and flourish in this role, and watching him, I know in my heart and soul that he will be an extraordinary president,” Michelle Obama said. “He is the only candidate in this race who understands the challenges that Americans are facing right now.”
Barack Obama believes the economic plan must be based on the middle class, according to Michelle Obama, that there should be a health care plan that covers every American, dependence on foreign oil should be reduced and every child should get a quality education. She said her husband would bring the troops home safely, and that the money spent on the war in Iraq each month should be invested “right here at home.”
“These issues, for me, are not political issues,” she said. “This is personal.”
Lumon May, Democratic candidate for state representative for District 3, spoke before Michelle Obama, and said even though the country is hurting, “we got hope, and hope is in Barack Obama.”
Shirley Henderson, 54, home ownership director for Community Enterprise Investments, attended the rally and said she thought Michelle Obama’s speech was “awesome.”
“It’s time for change,” Henderson said, explaining that she works with people who are going through the foreclosure process, and would like the economy to be in better shape for first-time home buyers. “For the economy to be able to rise up and have people be able to afford homes, but keep them, is very important to me.”
John Robinson drove an hour-and-a-half from Irvington, Ala., to attend the rally.
“It was excellent,” he said.
“I support Michelle, and her husband, Barack, because they’re really two people who are very caring about the American people. They’re also very in tune to what the public needs and what they want,” Robinson said. “I think Barack is going to be one of the best presidents to hold the office in some decades. He’s an advocate for change, and he’s not with the status-quo type of politics.”
Phil Hall, legal counsel to the Obama campaign in Escambia County, also spoke at the rally. He explained that early voting is easy; a picture ID and something with a signature on it are the only things needed to vote.
Hall also said if people have any problems while voting, a person with a blue button or hat will be available at the polls to help protect votes, and any problems can be taken to that person. If people have questions before voting, he said they can call: 1-866-2FL-OBAMA.
“When you leave here today, go vote, and vote for Barack Obama,” Hall said.
After the rally, people gathered outside the civic center to march to the polls to vote early.
For information about early voting locations, go to: www.escambiavotes.com or www.santarosa.fl.gov/elections.