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First Lady Michelle Obama Back in Greensboro for Campaign Stop

August 1, 2012 | Keri Brown

North Carolina is considered a swing-state in the upcoming presidential election in November. The Triad has become a hot spot the candidates on the campaign trail. First Lady Michelle Obama visited the Triad Wednesday to drum up support for her husband’s re-election bid.

More than 2200 people waited in long lines and 90 degree temperatures to see First Lady Michelle Obama speak at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Before the first lady took the stage at Fleming Gymnasium, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Fox spoke to the crowd. A video presentation showcasing President Barack Obama’s campaign platforms also played on a large screen.

Michelle Obama used the campaign stop to enlist support of the “It Takes One program” she launched last week. The program is aimed at encouraging grassroots participation and recruiting others to vote in the upcoming general election.

“Barack has said this election will be even closer than the last one and that you can count on and in the end it could come down to those last few thousand votes so that one new voter or neighbor that you help register and get to the polls. That could be the one,” said Michelle Obama.

The first Lady spoke about several high stakes issues including healthcare reform, taxes and the economy.

“This election is a choice about our economy. It’s about building a strong and growing middle class, so I want remind folks that Barack has cut taxes for working families by $3,600 and he has cut taxes for small businesses 18 times,” said Obama.

Tammy White is a middle school teacher at Keyser Middle School in Greensboro. She attended the rally with her 10 and 12 year-old daughters. She said education is a top concern for many Triad families.

“I think about my children going forward and the decisions that we make now will impact them so she made several points about our children and about financial aid and the impact of students loans and making Pell grants more available for them,” said White.

During the course of her speech the first lady highlighted the Obama administration’s efforts on behalf of military veterans, the reversal of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy and the capture of Osama bin Laden.

51 year-old Al Hunter of Fayetteville, NC is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He also served in Iraq. He stood in the crowd holding a blue and white sign that read “Veterans and Military Families for Obama”. He said veterans issues need to be addressed, regardless of who is in the White House.

“There are still some areas that we can use some improvement on given the fact that the population of veterans is growing rapidly because of the wars and all of us who are returning. I’m getting more medical benefits now than before his administration so I’m greatly appreciative of that,” said Hunter.

Recent polls put Obama neck and neck with presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney.

Both the Romney and Obama presidential campaigns have made trips to North Carolina, specifically to its third largest city. In July, Ann Romney was in Greensboro stumping for her husband. Recent polls put Obama neck and neck with presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney.

This is Michelle Obama's first trip to the state since May, when she spoke at commencement exercises at North Carolina A&T State University.

She also attended a campaign fundraiser Wednesday. The event’s $250 tickets will go to several Democratic organizations. Charlotte will host the Democratic National Convention next month.


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