Monday, June 28, 2004 11:45 AM CDT
Obama brings husband's campaign to Coles County
By KRISTA LEWIN, Staff Writer
CHARLESTON -- Even with the recent announcement that U.S. Sen. Republican candidate Jack Ryan had withdrawn, Michelle Obama, wife of U.S. Sen Democratic candidate Barack Obama, believes her husband is not assured of a victory.
Michelle Obama, wife of Obama, visited Charleston Saturday and spoke to Democratic supporters at What's Cookin' restaurant. Obama told the crowd of about 50 people that her husband's campaign depended on their support even more now despite the recent announcement by his senate opponent Ryan.
Ryan recently announced he was withdrawing from the senate race after his divorce records accused him of allegedly pressuring his then wife Jeri Ryan of his desire to have sex with her in public.
In light of the recent events, Obama answered to those with the viewpoint that her husband would be assured a victory in November.
"Over the last few days, some people have said this is a done deal," Obama said. "But no one in our house has said it is a done deal."
An Associated Press story reported that Illinois Republican leaders are currently conducting a search for a replacement candidate for Ryan.
During Saturday's visit to Charleston, Obama smiled, shook hands and talked individually to the people gathered at the restaurant.
After the meet and greet, she told the audience about her husband's background and discussed some of the campaign issues important to him.
Prior to marrying her husband, Obama recalled when she and him worked together at a Chicago law firm. She said she fell in love with him for the same reason many other people respect him; his connection with people.
Obama recalled her future husband had invited her to a community event at a small church where he would be speaking. Obama said the audience was compromised of grandparents raising grandchildren.
These people were concerned with the high crime rate and poverty, she said.
She watched as Obama took off his suit jacket and tie, rolled up his sleeves and told the people the importance of being connected and how everybody is connected regardless of education and social status, she said. He told them they were entitled to a decent living, health care and education, she recalled.
As he spoke, the people gathered at the church nodded their heads in approval or openly said ‘yes', she said.
"I knew he was special and that he connected with the people," Obama said. "That is how I fell in love with him."
Obama said since the time that he spoke at the church, his issues and concerns for the people have not changed and if elected he is interested in education, health care and jobs.
Obama currently represents Illinois'13th Senate District on Chicago's South Side. He is chairman of the Public Health and Welfare Committee and he also serves on the Judiciary and Revenue Committees.
People want to find hope in politics and Obama said her husband is offering that.
"I am here because I am a taxpayer, a mother and the daughter of an elderly parent," Obama said. "I don't like the direction our country is currently taking when it comes to working for the middle class."
She said middle class families should be able to count on sending their kids to college or the dream that they will be able to retire comfortably but that is not the way it is right now.
Obama said her husband is concerned about these issues and wants to work for the middle class.
"He's thoughtful, he's respectable and he gets the job done," Obama said. "If that is the kind of man you want, support us."
Coles County Democratic Chairman Bob Crowder along with the Obama camp, announced that Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Mattoon sometime at the end of July or first of August.
Contact Krista Lewin at klewin@jg-tc.com or 238-6858.
Add your comments
Not already registered?
Then click Here.
Comment policy:
JG-TC.com encourages readers to engage in civil conversation with their neighbors. Comments that are submitted are not posted to the site immediately. They go into a queue to be moderated and may take several hours to be reviewed. Comments posted on Saturday may not be reviewed until Sunday afternoon.
In order to keep the page a set width, long lines (mostly long links) will be chopped. Try putting spaces in your links or consider using tinyurl.com to make a smaller link that you can include.
We will never edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to remove comments that violate our code of conduct.
No comment may contain:
* Potentially libelous statements; such as accusing somebody of a crime, defamation of character, or statements that can harm somebody's reputation.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults, threats, harassment or inciting violence.
* Commercial product promotions.
If you have any questions, please contact our moderator.
|
|
|
|
|
