Hours before she is to present a keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama spoke on a conference call with college campus news outlets and unaffiliated students Tuesday, in what cumulated in a campaign event urging young people to get out to vote.
�Even on a big day like this, I wanted to make sure that I was connecting with some of what we consider our biggest supporters,� she said before continuing her It Takes One�voter registration push. �Register the person sitting next to you in class; don�t let anyone escape your grasp.�
The call, organized by the president�s re-election campaign, Obama for America, was geared toward young activists, including those that turned out to support Obama in 2008.
�Young people like you all are going to provide the spark that�s going to be needed – you did that back in 2008 and we�re going to need you to do it again in 2012,� Obama said.
The first lady presented the idea that young Americans influenced the 2008 presidential election by rallying family members to vote for Barack Obama.
�Don�t forget to talk to your own parents, you never underestimate how much you can inspire them. This is something that I heard in the last election from a lot of older people who were not going to vote for Barack, but it was because their children and their grandchildren were so passionate about his presidency� they became Obama supports because of young people like you in their lives.�
The first lady did not take questions on the call, but �campaigned for about ten minutes.
�As college students, you can see how important things are [this election] when you look at your tuition statement,� she said. �Before you go into that voting booth in November� ask yourselves, �Who�s gonna stand up for me in the White House?’�
Michelle Obama is scheduled to speak at the Democratic National Convention tonight at 8:35 p.m. Mountain Time.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Alison Noon at�Alison.noon@colorado.edu.