In the next few weeks, Michelle Obama will be in Illinois, Colorado, Wisconsin, New York, Washington, Connecticut, and California:
On Wednesday, Mrs. Obama will appear on behalf of Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias, who is vying to win the seat that the first lady's husband occupied for four years. Giannoulias was bullish on Sunday about the energy that the first lady's upcoming appearance in her own home state could inject into the race, telling reporters that his campaign office had been flooded with calls from supporters since the news of her visit was announced.
Giannoulias trailed GOP Rep. Mark Kirk by just one point in a Suffolk University poll earlier this month. In that poll, women favored Giannoulias by about 43 percent to 36 percent, with about 12 percent undecided.
Pam Monetti, the co-president of a group called Illinois Democratic Women, said that the first lady's visit will help to elevate Giannoulias's stance on women's issues as well as economic policies that would help struggling families.
"She's a mom," said Monetti. "A lot of women voters see that she faces the same things that we face."
On Thursday, the first lady will appear in Denver, Colorado, at an event for incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet. Bennet is in a difficult race against Tea Party-backed candidate Ken Buck, who defeated establishment GOP favorite Lt. Gov. Jane Norton in the Aug. 10 primary. The incumbent Democrat himself overcame a tough primary challenge from Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff. Read more at MSNBC
