Michelle Obama stumps in Montana
Posted: Monday, June 02, 2008 4:20 PM by Mark Murray
From NBC/NJ’s Adam Aigner-Treworgy
BILLINGS, MT -- On her first of two stops in the Treasure State today, Michelle Obama thanked roughly 400 volunteers here this morning and told them that "the real work begins after Tuesday, and it's going to be fun."
Later she seemed to admit that some Americans may have a tough time trusting her husband, and that's what volunteers must fight against. Referring to Dr. Grace Kim, a volunteer for the campaign who introduced her, Mrs. Obama said that people are ready for change, even if they might be scared of it.
"People are hopeful that we can move to a different place, and they're ready," she said. "And it's true -- as Grace said -- there are fears there for sure. People aren't sure whether they can trust, and they need some reassurance. And they're not sure what the answer should look like, but we know a couple of things. People are hurting, life has gotten harder, things are tougher, so people are willing to step outside of their comfort zones, probably in a way that they wouldn't before because the need is so great."
While thanking the room full of volunteers, Mrs. Obama also was sure to try to convince them that all the rumors of a divided Democratic Party are only rumors.
"I know that once this primary is over, we're going to be able to pull together a united party, a united nation," she said. "It's not just going to be about pulling Democrats together. But there are many independents, lots of Republicans who have been desperate to find a candidate they can believe in. This is the direction that we're moving in."
The crowd in attendance didn't need much convincing to agree that her husband was the right candidate to move the country in the right direction, but Mrs. Obama also gave the crowd a talking point to help convince their friends.
"He represents almost all that America has to offer, and sometimes we're not used to that," she said. "It takes a certain level of hope to embrace the vision that he has, and one thing that I can tell you throughout this entire year, I haven't been more proud of Barack than I have been in this year ... and the only thing that I try to reassure people, if you want to know what kind of president that Barack Obama will be, just look at this year. I mean he has run a phenomenal campaign against all the odds."
