By Andrew Barksdale
Staff writer
Michelle Obama, stumping in Fayetteville on Wednesday, said her husband understands the struggles of many working families and offers the leadership America needs.
“And now we look to the future with hope and with humility, more determined than ever to fulfill the faith of the millions who believe change is better and a better day is coming,” she said.
The wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama addressed the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, which is meeting in Fayetteville this week. The convention is made up of mostly black churches.
She spoke before a friendly Christian audience, referencing God and reciting scripture from the Gospels. She said the 21-month campaign for presidency is almost over.
“We have less than a week to go,” she said to applause. “Hallelujah! Praise God.”
Michelle Obama wore a blue suit with a glittery sequin. She kept her message positive and avoided any references to their campaign opponents. After her 23-minute speech, she headed to Rocky Mount for a rally.
North Carolina, a battleground state this year, has seen a flurry of visits from presidential candidates. Barack Obama was in Raleigh earlier in the day. He also was in Fayetteville on Oct. 19. His Republican challenger, John McCain, stumped here Tuesday. Sarah Palin, the GOP’s vice presidential nominee, is scheduled to be at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Saturday evening.
Michelle Obama addressed an audience of about 900. They sang, clapped and swayed to Gospel music and church hymns, awaiting her appearance inside the Fuller Recreation Center. Some of the songs and chants during the wait were spontaneous.
One eager woman called out, “Can we do it?” Others answered, “Yes, we can.”
The woman repeated the question and got the same answer.
“Let’s do it,” she then said, to laughter.
Michelle Obama said her husband, who was raised by a single mother who died at age 53 of cancer, knows firsthand the struggles of many Americans. His mother, while on her death bed, fought her health insurance, which then considered cancer a pre-existing condition.
“Don’t we deserve a president with that perspective, someone who knows firsthand the heartbreak caused by a broken health care system and is determined to fix it?” Michelle Obama asked.
“Don’t we deserve a leader who gets it?” she asked. “Well, Barack Obama gets it.”
She said her husband has sacrificed in the impoverished neighborhoods of the south side of Chicago and has offered a plan to remove the troops from Iraq and start investing domestically the $10 billion a month now being spent on the war.
“He is offering the leadership that we need so badly right now,” she said.
Gale Thomas, who attends Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Fayetteville, said she liked what she heard from what she hopes will be the next first lady.
“I like the fact that she never attacked John McCain and addressed the issues of all the people,” she said.
Sandra Powell, who is a minister at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Whiteville, said Michelle Obama’s visit was awesome.
“She talked with a lot of strength,” Powell said.
Staff writer Andrew Barksdale can be reached at barksdalea@fayobserver.com or 486-3565.
