Remarks by the First Lady at a Grassroots Campaign Event with Democratic Candidate for Governor Dan Malloy -- New Haven, Connecticut

Wilbur High School
New Haven, Connecticut

3:54 P.M. EDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Yes!  (Applause.)  Thanks so much, everyone.  This is so exciting.  I am beyond thrilled -- hi, you guys.  (Applause.)  We’re going to get this done.
 
I am beyond thrilled to be here to support our friend, your outstanding Governor, Dan Malloy.  (Applause.)  That’s why I’m here.  I’m here because of your Governor.  He’s done such an amazing job, and I want to start by thanking him for that wonderfully generous introduction.
 
But I also want to thank a few other of your outstanding Connecticut leaders who we have here today.  We’ve got Lieutenant Governor Wyman here, obviously.  We’re grateful for her service.  (Applause.)  We’ve got Senator Blumenthal, Senator Murphy here.  (Applause.)  We have Congresswoman DeLauro, who is here, your champion.  (Applause.)  And of course, your Mayor, Mayor Harp is here, as well.  (Applause.)  So I’m grateful to all of them for their leadership, for their service, for the work that they’re doing on behalf of this Governor.  We’re going to get this done.
 
But most of all, I want to thank all of you.  (Applause.)  Yes!  Just like your Governor said, it’s because of you that we’re here.  And like me, you all are fired up and ready to go.  There was an overflow crowd that I talked to, they are fired up and ready to go.  And like me, you all are here today for one simple reason:  You’re here because you know that this election isn’t about who is up here on this stage.  This is not about me.  It’s not about Barack.  It’s about you.  It’s about what is going on in your lives, what’s going on in your families, your communities.
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  -- and I am a DREAMer!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  And we love you, babe.  (Laughter.)  We do.
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Absolutely.  We have so many issues --
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  -- absolutely, honey.  (Applause.)  I hear you, babe.  I hear you, sweetie.  Okay, I’m going to wait and let you -- I will wait and let you finish.  I’m going to wait and let you finish, babe.  I hear every word you’re saying.
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  I hear you, babe.  No, no, understand this -- these -- there is passion here.  But, see, what we have to do is turn this passion into work.  (Applause.)  Because what I know is that everyone has an issue that is near and dear to them.  I know that when you kiss your kids goodbye -- everyone here who has a child, when you send them off, you want to make sure you send them to good schools with good teachers who will push them, who will ensure they have the love and support they need to be on track to go to college, to get a good job, to achieve.  (Applause.)
 
You’re here because you don’t ever want to be scared walking around in your own neighborhood.  (Applause.)  You believe that no child should ever feel afraid walking into their classroom.  (Applause.)  There are many issues of passion here.  That’s why elections are important.
 
You’re here because you believe that when you’re working your heart out, putting in 40 or 50 hours a week at your job, you should be able to pay your bills, you should be able to put some money away.  (Applause.)
 
See, I know this because this was my father.  He was a working-class guy.  He was able to raise a family, send us to college on his salary.  That is the American Dream we’re talking about.  (Applause.)  That’s why we’re here.
 
You’re here because you know that things are starting to get better because of your President -- (applause) -- because of leaders like Governor Malloy.  (Applause.)  But let me just share some of the numbers with you.  Our businesses have created more than 10 million new jobs since 2010.  This is the longest uninterrupted run of private sector job growth in our nation’s history.  (Applause.)  The national unemployment rate has dropped from a peak of 10 percent back in 2009 to 5.9 percent today.  (Applause.)
 
And I know you’re here because you want this state to keep heading in the right direction.  But most of all, you’re here because you know that this election will determine what happens on every single one of these issues.  You guys are lively here.  New Haven, you guys are all fired up.  (Applause.)  You guys want this to be a participatory rally, don’t you?  It’s like, who else should I have come on stage?  (Applause.)  Come on up here, make some points.
 
But remember this:  You cannot yell in the audience unless you’re going to vote.  You’ve got to vote.  (Applause.)  Every single issue that you care about -- whether it’s schools or jobs or DREAMers or neighborhoods -- so many of those decisions are made by your Governor.  Understand this.  This is local politics, and more of us have to understand how it works.  And that’s why you’re here for Dan Malloy.  (Applause.)  Because over the past four years, you have seen with your own eyes how this man has transformed this state.
 
While other governors were cutting education, your Governor invested in your schools.  And now, what’s going -- test scores are up.  Graduation rates are up.  That’s real work.  Dan Malloy helped create 60,000 jobs.  As he said, he passed paid sick leave, something that everyone -- especially our young people -- should understand.  (Applause.)
 
He raised the minimum wage, one of the most important things that will help working-class families get some stability.  He fought for equal pay for women.  (Applause.)  Come on, ladies.  (Applause.)  And then, he is a Governor that has shown such compassion.  After he sat with those grieving families in Newtown, Dan said, never again.  And Dan had the courage to stand up and pass common-sense gun reforms, and today, the crime rate here in Connecticut is at a 40-year low.  (Applause.)
 
So we can’t forget why we’re here today.  You know who Dan stands for.  You know who your Governor fights for.  He fights for you.  He fights for your families.  Dan Malloy is your Governor.  (Applause.)  And I want you -- just imagine, as he said, if he achieved so much in four years in tough times, just imagine what this man could do if you gave him another four years.  Just imagine.  (Applause.)
 
So now, I want to talk brass tactics.  Because this isn’t just about cheering and loving.  I’m happy to be here, I’m happy to feel the energy -- I’m even happy to hear the hecklers, because it shows that folks are revved up, they’ve got a focus.  This is important.  But there is work that must be done.  This just doesn’t happen because we feel good about it.  It happens because we work for it.
 
So between now and November the 4th, we need to do everything in our power to reelect Dan Malloy as Governor of this state.  We’ve got to do it.  (Applause.)  And this is not going to be easy -- just focus on this -- this will not be easy.  We know there is too much money in politics.  We know that special interests have way too much influence -- we know this.  But just remember, they had plenty of money and plenty of influence back in 2008 and 2012, and Barack Obama still won those elections.  (Applause.)  And you want to know why he won those elections?
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Because we showed up!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Exactly -- because we showed up and we voted.  That’s why.  Because at the end of the day, the folks running those special interest groups, the folks who poured millions of dollars into those elections, they each have just one vote -- and so do each of us.  And those votes are what decides elections in this country.
 
And make no mistake about it, every single one of these votes matters.  Because this election is going to be incredibly close -- and we know something about close.  And just -- I want you all to think back to Dan’s race in 2010, because the outcome of that election was decided by about 3,200 votes.  So just think, if 3,200 people had voted for his opponent instead, Dan would have lost.
 
And think even further -- because I like to break stuff down -- when you take that 3,200 and you break it down, that’s just four votes per precinct.  Take that in for a moment.  That is four votes per precinct.
 
So if there’s anybody here who is thinking that their vote doesn’t matter, if there’s anybody here who knows someone who thinks that voting just isn’t worth their time, if you know young people who are sitting on the couch, I want you to think about those four votes.  So we cannot afford to miss out on a single vote in this election -- not one.  This is real.  Think about your passions.  Think about the things you care about.  And think four votes.
 
So right now, here is what I need you to do right now -- I want you all to make a plan.  Because sometimes people don’t vote because they don’t have a plan.  So make your plan.  When are you going to vote?  Write down where you’re going to go, and commit to making it happen.  Do you need a ride?  You have to do it before work?  Do you need babysitting?  Are you going to take somebody with you that can’t get there on their own?  That’s what a plan is.  If you’re a young person, you got school, when are you going to make that happen?  You’ve got to make a plan, just like everything.  Stuff doesn’t just happen.
 
So everybody here has got to figure out how they’re going to make their voices heard on the 4th.  So now, between --
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Organize!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Organize!  (Applause.)  New Haven, you guys -- this is fun.  (Applause.)  I got a lot of help on this speech today.  So I know with all this enthusiasm, you guys are going to make this happen.  You guys are helping me out all through my speech.  (Applause.)
 
So between now and November 4th, I want you to spend every single minute you have doing the groundwork -- knocking on doors, finding your neighbors, making those phone calls for Dan Malloy.  You do it.  This is how it happens.  And then, on November 4th, get yourself, get everyone you know out to the polls.
 
And if you haven’t registered yet, that’s okay.  Young people who haven’t registered -- young people.  (Laughter.)  For those who may not have registered, you can register on November 4th and vote the very same day.  (Applause.)  That’s how easy it is.
 
So there really is no excuse.  Get buses and carloads of friends and congregation members and coworkers, and go vote together.  In fact, voting here couldn’t be easier -- all you have to do is show up.  So don’t be left out.
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  November 4th, even the homeless can vote (inaudible.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Even the homeless can vote.  (Applause.)  I love New Haven!  I love it.  (Applause.)  So don’t be left out.  Your friends will be there, your neighbors will be there.  You will be joining millions of folks across the country who are making their voices heard on the issues they care about.  That’s how you make change.  All those folks are doing this because they know that elections matter.  They know what’s at stake on November the 4th.
 
You see, because if we stay home on Election Day, all we’re doing is letting other folks decide the outcomes of our lives for us.  (Applause.)  And if we do that, we know exactly what will happen.  We will see less support for our kids’ schools.  We’ll see more folks interfering in women’s private decisions about our bodies and our health care -- that you know.  (Applause.)  We will see more special breaks for those at the top instead of for hard-working folks.  (Applause.)
 
So, Connecticut, I want to be very clear:  if you believe that folks who are working full time shouldn’t have to live in poverty in the wealthiest nation on the planet; if you think that every community in this state should have good jobs, that we should have common-sense gun laws that keep our families safe; if you think that every child in Connecticut should have the education they need from preschool to college to fulfill every last bit of their God-given potential, then you need to get everyone you know to vote for Dan Malloy for Governor.  (Applause.)  You’ve got to do this.
 
Because in the end, that’s really what’s at stake in this election -- it’s the kind of world we want to leave for our kids and our grandkids.  And those kids are counting on us.  We see these young people here -- they’re counting on us to stand up for them.
 
And I know these kids, and you know these kids.  They’re here.  They’re all over the country.  And that’s why we have to stay focused.
 
I’ll tell you a story about one of those kids, Rashema Melson.  She’s one of my mentees in Washington.  Now, Rashema’s father was murdered when she was a baby, and then for years, her family was homeless.  And there were days when she didn’t even have clean clothes to wear to school.
 
But that didn’t stop Rashema.  She showed up every morning to school on time.  She threw herself into every class.  She often had to wake up in the middle of the night just to do her homework because that’s the only time it was quiet in the homeless shelter where she and her family lived.  But by senior year, Rashema had earned a 4.0 GPA.  (Applause.)  She graduated as valedictorian of her class.  And right now, today, Rashema is on full scholarship at Georgetown University.  (Applause.)
 
And as I travel across this country, I meet so many kids just like Rashema every day -- kids who are working two or three jobs to save up for college.  Kids whose parents don’t speak a word of English, and are fighting so hard to make it in this country.  Kids who are out there on their own, waking up early, staying up late, studying as hard as they can because they know that’s the only way to make it.
 
And what I think about, what the President thinks about every day -- these kids have every reason to give up, but they are so hungry, they are so desperate to lift themselves up.  And that is why we’re here today.  Don’t get it twisted, as they say.  That’s why we’re here today.  (Applause.)  As Barack and I tell ourselves every day -- because those kids never give up, then neither can we.  Neither can we.
 
So between now and November 4th, New Haven, we need to be energized for our kids.  We need to be inspired for them.  We need to pour everything we have into this election so they can have the opportunities they need to build the future they deserve.
 
So just understand, this is on us.  The kids who are desperate to make it in this country, the kids who are working every day to get out of high school, to go to college -- we are standing up to them, and for them.  So if we keep stepping up and bringing others along with us, then I am confident that we can keep making that change we believe in.  I know that we can reelect Dan Malloy as Governor.  And I know that, together, we can build a future worthy of all our children’s dreams.
 
Thank you all.  Get it done.  God bless.  (Applause.)
 
END  
4:15 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the First Lady at a Grassroots Campaign Event with Democratic Candidate for Senate Mark Udall -- Denver, Colorado

Exdo Center
Denver, Colorado

1:13 P.M. MDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Hey!  (Applause.)  How are you guys doing?  Are we ready to get this done?  (Applause.)  Good.  I’m really thrilled to be here today.  Can you all hear me?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  All right, I can’t tell.  You can hear me?  (Applause.)  I’m very excited to be here today to support your outstanding Senator, Mark Udall.  (Applause.)
 
Now, as I’m sure you all know by now, Mark is the real deal.  In fact, I think it says a lot about Mark that years ago, he served as Executive Director of Colorado Outward Bound, and he’s spent his life scaling some of highest, hardest mountains here in this state and around the world.  And that tells you that he knows what it means to run a business, which is why he’s fought so hard to support clean energy, aerospace, and high-tech businesses here in this state so they can create good jobs here.
 
Mark’s background also tells you that he’s practical and tenacious, which is why he’s never gotten caught up in the bickering and partisanship back in Washington.  Instead, time and again, Mark has reached out across the aisles to get things done for this state.  And Mark is focused on real solutions -- that’s why I’m here -- whether it’s getting the best services for our veterans, or working to balance our budget, or ensuring that folks here in Colorado had the relief they needed after those devastating floods and the wildfires.
 
And as a fifth generation Coloradan, Mark understands what makes this state special.  He understands the values of independence and fairness -- all the things that folks here believe in.  And that’s why Mark has fought so hard to make sure women get equal pay for their work.  (Applause.)  It’s why he will always stand up for women’s right to make our own decisions about our bodies and about our health care.  (Applause.)  
 
So make no mistake about it, if you all want a Senator who truly shares your values and will keep on standing up for you and your families every day out there in Washington, then you need to do everything in your power to reelect Mark Udall as your Senator.  We’ve got to get this done, and I know that we can.  (Applause.)  
 
Now, while he couldn’t be here with us today, I also wanted to say a few words about your outstanding Governor, John Hickenlooper.  (Applause.)  Because there are a lot of good facts around your Governor.  During his time in office, Colorado’s unemployment rate dropped from 9.1 percent to 4.7 percent -- (applause) -- and Colorado went from 40th in the nation for job creation to 4th, with more than 200,000 new jobs here in this state.
 
John has balanced your budgets.  He’s invested in education.  He’s helped veterans and military spouses -- something near and dear to me -- helped them get good jobs.  And he’s done so much more.  So I think John’s record speaks for itself.
 
So when you vote to reelect Mark as your Senator, be sure to also reelect John Hickenlooper as your Governor, as well.  Let’s get it done.  (Applause.)
 
I also want to recognize a few of your outstanding Colorado leaders.  I know that Senator Michael Bennet was here earlier, and we’re going to do some more rallying it up after I leave here.  And Representative Diana Degette is here, as well.  (Applause.)  She brought me a really cool candle; I’m going to take that home.  (Laughter.)  So we’re so grateful for their leadership and for their service, as well.
 
But really, I’m here because I want to thank all of you.  Really.  So many of you have been with us from the very beginning -- (applause) -- back when we were talking about hope and change, and getting fired up and ready to go.  (Applause.)
 
And then so many of you were with us when Barack first took office, and he got a good look at the mess he’d been handed and wondered what on Earth he’d gotten himself into.  (Laughter.)  I want to take us back a little bit, to remember how bad things were back then.  See, because sometimes when things get better, we forget how bad they were.
 
But we were in full-blown crisis mode.  And I know there are young people here too young to even know.  Our economy was literally on the brink of collapse.  Wall Street banks were folding.  Businesses were losing 800,000 jobs a month -- 800,000 jobs a month.  People were panicking about whether we were headed for another Great Depression -- and that wasn’t just talk, that was a real possibility.  I could go on.  Things were bad.  And this is what Barack walked into on day one as President of the United States.
 
Now think about the way things look today, less than six years later, under your President.
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Thank you, Obama!  (Applause.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  By almost every economic measure, we are better off today than when Barack first took office.  And while, yes, I’m his wife -- I love him, I am proud of my husband, he’s doing a phenomenal job -- I say this because I have some facts.  So let me share some facts with you, because sometimes we don’t deal in facts.
 
Our businesses have created more than 10 million new jobs since 2010.  (Applause.)  This would constitute longest uninterrupted run of private sector job growth in our nation’s history -- do you hear me?  In our nation’s history.  The unemployment rate has dropped from a peak of 10 percent back in 2009 to 5.9 percent today.  (Applause.)
 
Your President has cut taxes for tens of millions of working families across this country.  (Applause.)  And last year, the number of children living in poverty decreased by 1.4 million, which is the largest drop since 1966.  (Applause.)
 
Our high school graduation rate is at a record high.  More of our young people are graduating from college than ever before, and we’re so proud of them.  Education is key for our young people.  And because of the Affordable Care Act, millions of Americans have finally gotten health insurance.  (Applause.)
 
I could go on and on and on.  But I want you to just think about how different our country looks to children growing up today.  Think about how they take for granted that a black person, a woman -- anyone -- can be President of the United States of America.  (Applause.)  They take for granted that their President will end hurtful policies like “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and speak out for equality for every American.  (Applause.)
 
So while we still have plenty of work to do, we have truly made so much of that change we were talking about.  But here’s what I want you to remember, especially now -- all this didn’t just happen because we elected Barack Obama.  It happened because we also elected outstanding leaders in states across this country -- leaders like Mark Udall, who stand up for our jobs, for our kids’ education; leaders who fight to raise the minimum wage and get women equal pay for their work.  (Applause.)  
 
So it’s important for you all to be just so clear that if we want to finish what we all started together, then we need to reelect Mark Udall as your Senator.  That has got to happen.  (Applause.)
 
And we know this won’t be easy.  We know that there is too much money in politics.  Special interests have way too much influence.  But remember, they had plenty of money and plenty of influence back in 2008 and 2012, and we still won those elections.  (Applause.)  You want to know why we won?  We won because we showed up and we voted.  And at the end of the day, the folks running those special interest groups, the folks pouring millions of dollars into those elections, guess what?  They each just have one vote -- and so do all of us.
 
And ultimately, the only thing that counts are those votes.  That’s what decides elections in this country.  And that’s why Barack Obama is President right now.  (Applause.)  He’s President because a bunch of people who never voted before showed up in 2008 and 2012.
 
And a lot of people were shocked when Barack won, because they were counting on folks like us to stay home.  But, see, we proved them wrong.  Barack won because record numbers of women and minorities and young people showed up to vote.  (Applause.)  Remember that.
 
See, but then what happened is that when the midterms came along, too many of our people just tuned out.  And that’s what folks on the other side are counting on this year.  Because when we stay home, they win.  So they’re assuming that we won’t care.  They’re hoping that we won’t be organized and energized.  They’re praying that we just stay put.  And only we can prove them wrong.
 
So make no mistake about it, this race is going to be tight.  We know that races like this can be won or lost by just a few thousand, even a few hundred votes -- understand this.
 
Just think back to the Senate race here in Colorado in 2010.  The outcome of that election was decided by about 14,000 votes.  And while that might sound like a lot, when you break that number down, that’s just five votes per precinct.  I want you to really take that in.  Because I go around the country and break these numbers down, and the margin of difference of victory and defeat, the numbers are countable.
 
So I want people to think before they forget to mail in their ballot, or when they’re thinking about the calls that we need you to make -- that every call that you make, every person that you turn around will absolutely make the difference.
 
And I know that everyone here in this room alone -- every single one of you -- knows five people that you can get to vote for Mark Udall, right?  You know five people who didn’t bother to vote in the last midterm elections.  You know these folks.
 
So understand that this one is on us.  These are our folks that we’re talking about getting to vote.  These are people who support Mark, who support this President, who support the issues.  And it’s up to us just to get them out there.  We can’t wait around for anyone else to do this for us.
 
If we want to keep on making change here in Colorado, then we need to take responsibility, and to work to make it happen.  Because we all know that the real problem isn’t that people don’t care.  Or course we care, right?  We care deeply about what’s happening in our communities.  We care deeply about justice and equality.  We care deeply about giving our kids opportunities they never dreamed of.
 
But the fact is that sometimes folks get busy.  Folks are juggling demands at home, the needs of their families.  Sometimes people just aren’t informed about the issues at stake in this election.  Sometimes they just don’t know how to make their voices heard on Election Day.  Some people don’t even know that election is happening.
 
So that’s why you all are here.  It’s up to us to educate folks and make sure they know how to cast their votes in this election.  That’s your job.  That’s what we’re counting on.  (Applause.)  That’s why I’m here.  It’s up to us to get out and, first, to vote ourselves.
 
So first of all, I want to know how many people here have already voted.  (Applause.)  All right, that’s still not everybody.  (Laughter.)  So that starts with voting, here in this room.  And voting by mail, voting early, in person -- all that -- it’s the easiest thing you can do.
 
If you vote by mail, be sure to put your ballot in the mail today, or as soon as possible, with two stamps.  Two -- do you -- two stamps.  Or you can just bring your early-voting ballot to the voting location nearest you.  You can also vote early in person from now until Election Day.
 
However you decide to vote, don’t wait another minute.  Do it today.  Just promise me that everybody in this room will vote today.  In fact, do it as soon as this event is over.  (Applause.)  Think about those five people as you do it.
 
And that’s really my key message today:  to vote as soon as you can, and get everyone you know to vote with you -- everyone.  Call your friends, your family.  You -- everybody knows somebody who’s sitting on the couch right now who’s not even focused on this.  Find that person in your lives, just shake them up -- (laughter) -- and make sure they put those ballots in the mail, or they get out to the polls.
 
And then we need all of you, every one of you to volunteer.  That’s how it happens.  That’s how we get votes done.  That’s how we did it in the past elections -- making those calls, knocking on those doors.  I know so many of you are already doing that, but we’ve just got a few more days to go.
 
So this isn’t a lot of time.  So everybody here can be a part of pulling another five people in just by calling them on the phone and saying, hey, did you know an election was coming up, get your ballot.
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Yes, we can!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Yes, we can do this!  (Applause.)  See, that’s the thing:  We absolutely can do this.  And we need you to go to MarkUdall.com -- MarkUdall.com.  And I know there are enough young people here who can help the technologically challenged of us to do that -- right, young people?  (Applause.)
 
But better yet, you can sign up with one of the organizers that are here today.  There are clipboards all around, so don’t leave here until you volunteer.  It’s a few hours out of your time, and it will absolutely make a difference.  Don’t wait another minute to get started because we’ve got less than two weeks until Election Day.
 
And we all need to be as passionate and as hungry for this election as we were back in 2008 and 2012.  In fact, we need to be even more passionate and even more hungry, because these midterm races will be even harder and even closer than those presidential elections -- but they’re just as important.  Do you hear me?  They’re just as important.
 
And the stakes this year simply could not be higher.  Because if we don’t elect leaders like Mark who will put our families first instead of fighting for special interests, then we know exactly what will happen.  We will see more folks interfering in women’s private decisions about our health care.  We’ll see more opposition to immigration reform and raising the minimum wage for hard-working folks.
 
So let’s be very clear:  If you don’t think people who work 40 or 50 hours a week should have to live in poverty in the wealthiest nation on the planet; if you don’t want women’s bosses making decisions about their birth control; if you think women should get equal pay for equal work; if you want your kids to have quality preschool and the college education they need to fulfill every last bit of their God-given potential, then you all need to stand up and get everyone you know to stand up and vote for Mark Udall.  We can make this happen.  (Applause.)
 
That’s what’s at stake in these elections –- it’s the kind of country we want to leave for our kids and grandkids.  And those kids are counting on us to stand up for them.  If you want to know the thing that keeps me and Barack going, it’s thinking about our kids in this country.  Because we know these kids.  They’re everywhere, and they’re counting on us.
 
And I meet them everywhere -- kids like a young man named Lawrence Lawson, who worked with me on my Reach Higher initiative.  This young man’s father died when he was eight years old.  Then at the age of nine, this kid suffered a major seizure where he had to learn to read and walk and speak again.  Then at 12, his mother died, and this kid was passed from his aunt in Atlanta to his sister in Baltimore.
 
But see, the beauty of Lawrence is that no matter what was going on in his life, whatever chaos was surrounding him, this kid did his best in school.  He joined the marching bank.  He interned at Johns Hopkins Hospital.  And he graduated as the valedictorian of his high school class.  (Applause.)
 
And as I travel across this country, I meet so many kids just like Lawrence.  I know that right now in this crowd, there are kids like Lawrence -- these are our kids.  Kids who wake up early and take the long route to school to avoid the gangs -- these are our kids.  Kids who juggle afterschool jobs to support their families, stay up late to get their homework done -- these are our kids.  Kids whose parents don’t speak a word of English, but who are fighting every day to realize their dream of a better life.
 
This is what’s at stake.  These kids have every reason to give up, but they are so hungry to succeed.  They are so desperate to lift themselves up.  And that’s what we have to remember.  We’re here today because of them.  Because if those kids never give up, then neither will we.  We will never give up on these kids.
 
So between now and November 4th, we need to be energized for them.  We need to be inspired for them.  We need to pour everything that we have into this election so that they can have the opportunities they need to build the futures they deserve.
 
So that’s why we’re here.  That’s why we’re here.  That’s why those five votes just don’t make sense.  We cannot let this election go, because it will have an impact on our children that they will feel for a very long time.
 
So are you guys ready for this?  (Applause.)  We got two weeks of hard work, two weeks of knocking on doors, two weeks for voting, two weeks of calling.  We can get our people out, and we can get them to vote.  And when we do that, we will get Mark Udall into office.  We’ll reelect John Hickenlooper.  We will keep working for that change we believe in.  And we will keep building a better future for our children.
 
Thank you all so much.  (Applause.)
 
END  
1:30 P.M. MDT

Remarks by the First Lady at a Grassroots Campaign Event with Democratic Candidate for Senate Bruce Braley

University Of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

12:50 P.M. CDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you so much.  Wow, that was good stuff right there.  (Applause.)  That was good stuff.  I am thrilled to be here today to support the next Senator from Iowa, our friend Bruce Braley.  Let’s give it up for Bruce.  (Applause.)
 
Now, let me say that one more time:  Bruce Braley.  (Laughter and applause.)  Now, some of you may remember the last time I was here.
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  You got it right!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  No, I got it wrong a couple of times.  (Laughter.)  But I sort of laughed to myself because I thought, well, people should follow me home because -- talk to Malia and Sasha and I never call them the right names.  (Laughter.)  It’s like, who are you?  I call Barack Bo.  It just -- it never works out really well.  (Laughter.)
 
But although I may have slipped up on Bruce’s name a couple of times, what I know I got right are Bruce’s values.  And that’s really what matters in these elections.  You can hear from his stories, his life story, you know his heart is where it needs to be.  You know this is a man of excellent character.  You know that he’s someone who understands family.  You know he’s someone who’s going to commit to the people of this state every single day.
 
And that’s why I’m back in Iowa today -- because I know where Bruce comes from.  I know what he stands for.  And I have seen politicians come and go, candidates come and go, and what matters is who they are as people.  I know that Bruce is going to fight for your families every single day in the Senate.
 
As he told you, Bruce grew up a lot like I did -- working-class family.  His mom was a teacher.  His father was a Marine Corps vet.  And like a lot of you here today, as he said, Bruce had to work his way through college like many of us; waited tables, worked a grain elevator, built bridges with a county roads department.
 
So make no mistake about it, Bruce understands what families here in Iowa are going through because he’s lived it.  That’s why he fought so hard to raise the minimum wage -- because he understands that folks who work 40 or 50 hours a week shouldn’t have to live in poverty in the wealthiest nation on the planet.  (Applause.)  That’s why Bruce believes that after a lifetime of hard work, folks should be able to retire with dignity and security.  That’s why he’s worked so hard to protect Social Security and Medicare.
 
And of course, when it comes to helping young people afford college, you heard him talk.  You all have a true champion in Bruce Braley.  He has worked tirelessly to expand Pell grants, to keep interest rates low for student loans, helped graduates refinance their loans at a lower rate.  And I know there are a lot of students here, right?  You know how that feels.  You know how important that is.  (Applause.)
 
And finally, when it comes to women’s health, Bruce fought hard to make sure that insurance companies cover the costs of things like birth control.  (Applause.)  And he believes that politicians shouldn’t be butting into the private health decisions made by women and their doctors -- we can handle that.  (Applause.)
 
So let’s be clear:  If you all want a Senator who shares your values and will stand up for you and your families out in Washington, then you need to elect Bruce Braley to the U.S. Senate.  We got to get this done.  We can do this here.  (Applause.)  And it’s going to happen because of you all here.
 
I also want to take a moment just to acknowledge Dave Loebsack, as well.  He’s been a dear friend, your Congressman.  Dave, I love you and Jeannie! You guys are awesome.  (Applause.)

Like Bruce, Dave really gets it, as well.  He was raised by a single mother who struggled to make ends meet.  And during his time in Congress, Dave has worked tirelessly to create good manufacturing jobs, to support our seniors, to give our kids the opportunities that he had to build a better life for himself.  He wants our young people to have those same opportunities.  So when you vote for Bruce, I want you all in the Second District to be sure to vote for Dave Loebsack, as well.  We’re going to get him back in.  (Applause.)
 
And of course, I want to thank all of you.  This is a great crowd, great turnout.  You guys are going to do this for Bruce.  I’m excited to be back again, because I love Iowa.  I do.  I do.  (Applause.)  It feels like home in so many ways.
 
And I said this when I was in Des Moines, but it’s worth repeating -- I will never forget how you all embraced me and my family when we first came to campaign in 2007.  I’ll never forget how you invited us into your homes and onto your campuses, and marched with us in the Harkin Steak Fry and the Jefferson Jackson dinner.  (Applause.)
 
But most of all, I’ll never forget how you showed us what politics is like at its very best -- when people take the time to really get to know their candidates and to engage in the issues that are at stake.  And that’s really why I wanted to come to Iowa City today to talk with all of you, to many of our young people -- also to those young at heart.  I know we have a few people here, too.  (Laughter.)
 
But I want to spend a little more time talking to young people, because this election is really about you guys.  It really is.  It’s about your hopes and your dreams, and the world that you want to pass onto your kids and your grandkids.  But I know that despite that fundamental truth, I know that too many young people feel that elections just don’t matter; that politics just really doesn’t make a difference, so they think why bother to show up, why bother to vote.  Does anybody here know anybody like that?
 
So I want you to know that if there is anybody here who feels that way or you know someone who feels this way, I just want to give you some facts.  I mean, you heard from Bruce.  He made some excellent points about what this election can mean for your education.  But I want you to think about all the change that we’ve made these past six years under President Barack Obama.  (Applause.)  And I think a brief history lesson is important, because so many of you might be too young to really remember what things were like back in 2008.  Some of you guys were babies back then.  (Laughter.)
 
But in 2008, when Barack first took office, our economy was literally on the brink of collapse.  Wall Street banks were folding.  Businesses were losing 800,000 jobs every single month -- every month.  Folks on TV and in the papers were worried about whether we were headed for another Great Depression -- and this wasn’t talk, this was a real possibility.  Things were a mess.  And this is what was handed to Barack when he set foot in the Oval Office his first day as President of the United States.  And that’s just what was going on in the economy.
 
Now I want you to think about how things look today, just six years later, six years’ worth of work.  By almost every economic measure, we are better off today than when Barack took office.  That’s a fact.  (Applause.)  Our businesses have created more than 10 million new jobs since 2010.  This is the longest uninterrupted run of private sector job growth in our nation’s history.  (Applause.)
 
The unemployment rate for young people is down from a high of 10.6 percent in 2009 to 6.2 percent today.  (Applause.)  More young people are graduating from college than ever before -- I love that.  (Applause.)  As you heard from Bruce, we’ve expanded financial aid, and for millions of students we’ll be capping federal student loan payments at no more than 10 percent of your income.  Yes.  (Applause.)  Look, I wish I had that when I was your age.  I tell this story all the time -- Barack and I, our loan debt for our education was higher than our mortgage -- yes.  Because, as Bruce understands, we do this because he knows you shouldn’t have to be buried in debt like we were when you’re just getting started in life.
 
So these things are important.  Under the Affordable Care Act, millions of young people have health care because -- and you all know this -- you can stay on your parents’ insurance until you’re 26 years old.  (Applause.)  So when you graduate from school, if you can’t find a job right away or if you want to do something entrepreneurial, if you want to take a risk, you won’t be left out in the cold just praying that you don’t get sick or hurt.  (Applause.)  That’s what the Affordable Care Act means for you.
 
And for the last six years, we’ve had a President who shares our most fundamental values -- a President who ends hurtful policies like “don’t ask, don’t tell,” a President who truly believes that everyone in this country should have a chance to succeed no matter what they look like or how much money they have or who they love.  (Applause.)
 
So I could go on, and on, and on, and on.  But if anyone ever tells you that elections don’t matter, I want you to tell them to look back at the last six years.  Tell them about all those -- two elections, how they changed the course of history in this country.  And tell them that the same is true this year, right here in Iowa.  You have a chance.
 
You see, in this election, you have an opportunity to vote for a Senator who truly shares your values; someone who is going to fight to create good jobs, make sure those job pay a decent wage; someone who’s going to build good schools, make college more affordable; someone who’s going to fight for equal pay for women, and who will support our right as women to make our own decisions about our bodies and our health care.  That’s the kind of leader Bruce Braley will be, and that’s why we need to do everything we can to elect him as the next Senator from Iowa.  (Applause.)  We’ve got to get this done.  Elections matter.  They matter.  They matter.
 
And we know this won’t be easy.  It won’t be.  We know that there’s too much money in politics.  We know that special interests have way too much influence.  But here’s what I want my young people to understand, too:  They had all that money and influence back in 2008 and 2012, and we still won those elections.  We still won.  (Applause.)  You want to know why we won?  Because of so many people like you -- young people like you all.
 
For years, folks counted young people out.  That was the conventional wisdom -- that young people don’t care, that young people aren’t engaged and won’t show up on Election Day.  But, boy, did you all prove them wrong for Barack Obama.  (Applause.)  And our young people, boy, you all knocked on doors, you made calls, you used every kind of social media tool.  You got it done!  You got it done!  (Applause.)
 
And it’s important for you to understand that your work inspired people across this country.  You inspired other people to get to the polls and cast their votes.  And what happened in 2008 and 2012 reminded us of a simple truth:  that at the end of the day, the folks running those special interest groups, the folks who poured millions of dollars into those elections, they each have just one vote -- and so do each of us.
 
And those are the votes that decide elections in the United States of America.  That’s why Barack Obama is President right now.  (Applause.)  He’s President because a whole bunch of folks who never voted before showed up to vote in 2008 and 2012.
 
But here’s what happened -- a lot of people were shocked when Barack won.  They were counting on folks like us to stay home.  Barack won because record numbers of women and minorities and young people showed up.  (Applause.)  But what happens in these midterm races is that too many of our people just tuned out.  And that’s what folks on the other side are counting on this year, because, as I remind people, when we stay home, they win.  So they’re assuming that we won’t care.  They’re hoping that we won’t be organized and energized.  They’re praying that we just sit back.  And only we can prove them wrong.
 
Make no mistake about it, this race is going to be tight.  We know that races like this can be won or lost by just a few thousands, even a few hundred votes.
 
Just think about what happened in the 2012 presidential election here in Iowa.  The outcome of that race was decided by about 46,000 votes.  And while that might sound like a lot, when you break it down, that’s just about 27 votes per precinct.  I want young people to really hear that number -- that’s just 27 votes.  That’s why voting matters.  Twenty-seven votes.
 
So if we really get to work just here in this room, think about how many precincts all of us could swing for Bruce Braley.  Just think about it.  Just the think about the work -- can happen in this room.  (Applause.)
 
So, young people, our young people, this election is on us.  It’s on us.  Your future is on us.  Our future is on us.  We’ve got to get this done.  We can’t wait around for anyone else to do this.  We’ve got to get people organized and energized, and we’ve got to get them out to vote.
 
And you can get started right now, today.  We’re going to be practical right now.  You can start by voting early.  More Iowans are voting earlier every year because it’s the easiest way to make your voice heard.  You can request your ballot by mail right here at this event, or you can go to Vote.BruceBraley.com.  Young people, get your things out.  (Laughter.)  You’ve got those things and you press them really fast and you get information.  And then you can show some of the young-at-heart people how to do it, too.  (Laughter.)  That’s Vote.BruceBraley.com -- or, even better, you can vote early in person right now.  (Applause.)  Look at that -- right now.
 
Because from now until November 4th, every day is Election Day.  And if you haven’t registered yet, don’t worry -- you can register to vote and vote early at the same time.  (Applause.)  It couldn’t be easier.
 
So I want you all to vote as soon as you can.  In fact, vote today.  Vote today.  Just get it done, get it out of the way.  Don’t wait until tomorrow, young people, or the next day.  (Laughter.)  Do it right after this event.  And as Bruce said, if you live here in Johnson County, you can go right over to the Old Capitol Mall at 201 South Clinton Street.  Just check it off your list.  (Applause.)  That location is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
 
And be sure to bring everyone you know along with you to vote.  Bring your roommate.  Bring your teammate.  Bring folks from your fraternity, your sorority.  Bring folks you met at the party last weekend.  (Applause.)  Or, better yet, for the parents, those you met in the library studying.  (Laughter.)  Those are really the people we’re talking about.
 
And be sure to sign up to volunteer, as Bruce said.  Because if everyone here today signs up to knock on doors or make calls for three hours --
 
AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  We knock doors!  We knock doors!  We knock doors!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  We knock doors!  We knock doors!  We knock doors!  (Applause.)  They need you knocking doors.  If everybody here invests those three hours, then I’m confident that we will win this election.  So for just three hours of your time, you will get six years of an outstanding Senator who will carry on Tom Harkin’s legacy.  (Applause.)  So don’t wait another minute.  Find an organizer with a “Commit” card and volunteer.
 
As Bruce said, the stakes this year simply could not be higher.  Because if we don’t get folks out to vote, if we don’t elect leaders like Bruce Braley to the Senate, then we know exactly what will happen.  We will see more folks interfering in women’s private decisions about our health care.  We’ll see more opposition to immigration reform, to raising the minimum wage for hard-working folks.
 
So I want to be very clear:  If you think people should get a decent paycheck for their work, a paycheck they can raise their families on; if you don’t want women’s bosses making decisions about their birth control; if you think women should get equal pay for equal work; if you think every young person in this country should have a chance to go to college and build a good life for themselves -- then you need to step up and get everyone you know to vote for Bruce Braley.  (Applause.)  You guys can do that.
 
That’s what’s at stake in this election -- it’s the kind of country we want to leave for our kids and our grandkids.  And as I said last time when I was here, those kids are counting on us to stand up for them.  And we know kids like this all over the country.  There are kids here just like this who are working hard, doing their best under some incredible odds.
 
There’s a young woman who is a -- one of our mentees.  We have a wonderful mentorship program at the White House for young girls, and Rashema Melson is one of those mentees.
 
Rashema’s father was murdered when she was a baby, and for years her family was homeless.  There were days when she didn’t even have clean clothes to wear to school.  This kid, she’s beautiful and vibrant and bubbly.  Rashema, despite all that she was going through, she still showed up every morning to school.  She threw herself into every class, often waking up in the middle of the night to do her homework because that’s the only time it was quiet in the homeless shelter where she lived.
 
And by senior year, Rashema had earned herself a 4.0 GPA, and she graduated as the valedictorian of her class with a full scholarship to Georgetown University.  (Applause.)  That’s where Rashema is right now.  She is a Georgetown student.  I’m so proud of her.
 
And as I travel across this country, I meet so many kids like Rashema -- kids who wake up early and take the long route to school to avoid the gangs.  Kids who juggle afterschool jobs to support their families and stay up late to get their homework done.  Kids who don’t speak a word of English, but who are fighting every day to realize their dream of a better life.
 
These kids have every reason to give up, but they are so hungry to succeed and so desperate to lift themselves up.  And that’s why we’re here today -- because those kids never give up, and neither will we.  We will never give up on our kids, ever.  Education is at -- the key to our success as a nation.  (Applause.)  And we have to invest everything we can in them.
 
So between now and November, we need to be organized for them.  We need to be inspired for them.  We need to pour everything we have into this election so that they can have the opportunities they need to build the future they deserve.
 
And if we all do that, if we all keep stepping up and bringing others along with us, then I know that we can keep on making that change we believe in.  I know we can elect Bruce Braley as the next Senator from Iowa.  (Applause.)
 
So we can get this done.  I’m counting on you guys.  Go vote!  Sign up and volunteer.  (Applause.)  Get it done.  We have two more weeks.  We can make this happen.  Twenty-seven votes, so find every person you know and shake them.  (Laughter.)
 
I love you all.  Let’s get it done.  Thank you.  God bless.  (Applause.)
 
END  
1:14 P.M. CDT