First lady makes 1st foray into 2012 campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) - Though the first lady said President Obama has accomplished much in almost 2½ years, she told a Democratic Party women's group that there's a lot more to do...

TheGrio Staff

May 19, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — Michelle Obama made her first foray into the 2012 presidential campaign Thursday, telling donors that her husband needs them to “work like you have never worked before” so he can finish the job he started.

Though the first lady said President Barack Obama has accomplished much in almost 2½ years, she told a Democratic Party women’s group that there’s a lot more to do, with a long and difficult campaign ahead.

Addressing the Democratic National Committee’s Women’s Leadership Forum’s annual national issues conference, the first lady hit many of the same notes as the president has in his recent campaign speeches.

She talked about turning around an economy in decline, cutting taxes for the middle class, overhauling the health care and financial systems and providing more financial aid for college students. She mentioned repealing the ban on gay military service and bringing home troops from Iraq after the end of formal combat operations.

“He needs you to work like you have never worked before, people,” she said.

Since part of her mission was to appeal to women, Mrs. Obama noted that the president had put two “brilliant” women on the Supreme Court and had made an equal pay law the first piece of legislation he signed in the White House.

“I think that it’s fair to say that we’ve seen some change and we should be proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Mrs. Obama said. “But we should not be satisfied.”

She didn’t mention any of the Republicans who are running or thinking about running against her husband. But implicit in her 20-minutes speech was the sentiment that he’s the one who will make the country a better place for the next generation.

“So I have one question for you. Are you in?” she said, riffing on the Obama campaign’s re-election theme. “I hope that all of you are fired up. I hope that all of you are ready to go.”

Proceeds from the conference were going to the Obama Victory Fund to be shared between the Democratic National Committee and Obama’s re-election campaign.

Democratic officials declined to say how much money was raised, citing competitive reasons.

The president was scheduled to address the group Thursday evening.