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Michelle Obama stumps for Udall

Dems continue efforts with more high-profile speakers
Democrats shared the love Thursday as first lady Michelle Obama greets excited well-wishers on Thursday after appearing at a rally for re-election of Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., in Denver.

DENVER – First Lady Michelle Obama traveled to Denver on Thursday to continue the get-out-the-vote effort for Democratic incumbent Mark Udall.

Udall remains in a coin flip U.S. Senate race against Republican challenger Cory Gardner, a congressman from Yuma.

The first lady spent a significant amount of time during her speech pointing to the accomplishments of her husband, President Barack Obama, including health-care reform and a rebounding economy.

“If you want to finish what we all started together, then we need to re-elect Mark Udall as your senator,” Obama told the audience of about 1,500 at the EXDO Center in Denver.

Gardner’s campaign has repeatedly said Obama’s issues are on the ballot this fall, therefore voters should reject Udall because he regularly votes with the president.

The first lady harkened back to her husband’s speech at the Democratic National Convention at Invesco Field in Denver in 2008. She said when the president took over, he inherited a “mess” left by Republican President George W. Bush.

“So many of you were with us when Barack first took office, and he got a good look at the mess he had been handed, and wondered what on Earth he had gotten himself into,” Michelle Obama told the energetic audience.

The first lady’s trip to Denver marked the second visit this week by a high-profile Democratic woman for Udall. Hillary Clinton stumped for Udall in Aurora on Tuesday.

The events are part of a larger get-out-the-vote effort by Democrats in the last two weeks before Election Day.

Gardner’s campaign responded, suggesting it is not a flattering endorsement to have an Obama speak on a Democrat’s behalf.

“Senator Udall votes with President Obama 99 percent of the time. Colorado needs an independent voice in the Senate and Cory Gardner will be that independent voice for Colorado,” said Gardner campaign spokesman Matt Connelly. “When his party is wrong, Cory will say something. When something is broken, Cory will fix it.”

The first lady spent time highlighting women’s issues, especially reproductive rights, which has been a prime issue during the election cycle. Democrats have tried to paint a “war on women” waged by Republicans.

“He will always stand up for a woman’s right to make our own decisions about our bodies,” Obama said of Udall.

There was a bit of a flub, however, during Obama’s remarks, when she referred to Udall as a fifth-generation Coloradan, a proud title held not by Udall, but by his Republican opponent. Udall’s Colorado family roots go back four generations, but he himself grew up in Arizona.

It was not the first lady’s first misstep. When campaigning in Iowa for Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley, she repeatedly got his name wrong, referring to him as “Bailey.”

Obama also pointed to Gov. John Hickenlooper, another incumbent Democrat in a tight re-election bid. Hickenlooper did not attend Tuesday’s event, but that didn’t stop Obama from praising him.

“John’s record speaks for itself,” Obama said. “So, when you vote to re-elect Mark as your senator, be sure to also re-elect John Hickenlooper.”

The first lady also spoke in Fort Collins on Tuesday at a rally at Colorado State University.

pmarcus@durangoherald.com



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