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DEL.ICIO.USA long day for Michelle Obama
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As much as she can, Michelle Obama tries to structure her campaign stops for her husband so that she gets home every night to be with their two children. Some days are harder than others.
On Wednesday, she arose at 4 a.m. in Chicago, got Malia, who turns 9 next month, and Sasha, who turns six on Sunday, up at 5:30, had breakfast and dropped them off with a neighbor before heading to O’Hare for a flight to Atlanta.
This wasn’t going to be her last stop of the day, so she didn’t expect to make it back on this day before the girls went to bed. But she’s determined to keep homelife as normal as possible, even as the campaign picks up in intensity.
“We’ve started thinking about strategies, striking that balance so that both of us aren’t away from the kids at the same time,” Obama said. “That’s something that Barack and I committed to, coming into this thing.”
In addition to being a mother and campaign wife, Obama is the vice president for external affairs for the University of Chicago hospitals. Her brother is the men’s basketball coach at Brown University.
They grew up in Southside Chicago, the children of a stationary fireman at the city water filtration plant and a stay-at-home mom. It’s a background she said has given her a common set of values with her husband.
“We’re both from working-class Midwestern households,” she said.
That ideal of giving your children a better life is one that plays heavily in the Obama campaign message that his generation is in danger of potentially “handing over a country to our children and grandchildren that’s a little bit poorer and a little bit mean than the one we got.
Obama drew more than 600 women to a $250-a-plate fundraiser at the Depot, followed by a rally with student supporters.
At the lunch, she stressed the importance of the early contests, which in this part of the country means South Carolina and Florida. It’s a point that was also emphasized at her husband’s big rally here earlier this year.
With the race shaping up as a short sprint, that’s kind of an obvious point, but it’s one Obama’s troops seem particularly concerned about. He’s made huge strides in the polls and fundraising, but you get the sense his campaign doesn’t want to get caught short before his supporters get the chance to impact the process.
So far, she said, the crowds and the enthusiasm for her husband haven’t died down.
“That’s what’s been most amazing to us. There’s this hunger out there,” she said. “At every event I meet at least four or five people who’ve never voted before, never written a check. This campaign is tapping into a whole layer of people who have never felt a reason to engage.”
Comments
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By Sarah
June 7, 2007 8:31 AM | Link to this
Soonshe will have her old life back, once her husband drops out of the race for President. After his nothing less than awful showing in the last Democratic debate, her husband being President is the last thing she should worry about. Obamas’ lack of a plan, drive and focus is becoming amazingly obvious each time the unexperienced Senator gets in front of a crowd. Obama is a fine example of someone who read too much good press about himself and made the mistake of believing it and thinking he was ready for such a task as running for the Oval Office. Now, if someone could explain to me why John Edwards chose to pair up with Danny Glover on the campaign trail? This odd pairing makes his four hundred dollar haircuts look like a good investment. When Hillary Clinton appears to be the best choice for a party, good folks of America…the party is over, turn out the lights and go home. Make sure you lock the doors behind you.
By Nick
June 7, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this
Sarah I think you have had to much Republican-flavored kool-aid. The Democratic side of the debate is where all the ideas are coming from. Health Care, reduction in dependence on foreign oil, and an end to this dreaded war. It’s also hard for the party to be over when they are in the majority of both houses of Congress.
By Charles
June 7, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this
We wholeheartedly agree Sarah. I couldn’t have said it better.
Ron Paul may be the most principled person of all the presidential candidates. I hope Americans elect him President of the United States.
www.radioliberty.com www.freedomadvocates.org www.iotconline.com
By Nick
June 7, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this
Sarah I think you have had to much Republican-flavored kool-aid. The Democratic side of the debate is where all the ideas are coming from. Health Care, reduction in dependence on foreign oil, and an end to this dreaded war. It’s also hard for the party to be over when they are in the majority of both houses of Congress.
By Icey
June 7, 2007 8:39 PM | Link to this
Yes, Sarah, you second the comment on your GOP-ade. Your talking points are so obvious, anyone can smell them. Don’t worry, Mr. Obama is not dropping out of the race, just yet. Not when he is drawing massive crowds, hauling in huge amounts of monies, etc. And has over 15,000 for his Walk for Change on Saturday. Don’t worry, he will definately exceed your expectations.