Mrs. Obama urges NC college students to vote early

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

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michelle obama, unc, inside politics

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Michelle Obama urged North Carolina college students on Tuesday to work hard for her husband, making sure they and their friends cast ballots as early voting begins this week in the battleground state.

The first lady appeared at a grassroots event on UNC Chapel Hill's campus Tuesday, two days before early voting begins.

Whereas Republicans have claimed the president doesn't have a record to run on, Michelle Obama ticked off accomplishments from the last four years: getting out of Iraq, helping keep college loans affordable, putting health insurance within reach for millions of families, the death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of Navy SEALs and saving the U.S. auto industry.

"I could go on and on," she said. "He inherited an economy in rapid decline. Instead of pointing fingers, he got to work. ... Are we going to turn around and let everything we have fought for just slip away?"

Saying there was still much more that the president hoped to accomplish with four more years, the first lady echoed the campaign's buzz words from 2008.

"Change is hard. It takes patience and tenacity," she said. "Elections are about hope."

Tuesday's event was held at Carolina's Carmichael Arena, which is the same place where President Obama spoke this spring to build support for getting Congress to extend low-interest student loans.

The first lady held a similar get-out-the-vote rally last month at North Carolina Central University in Durham.

Tuesday's event marked the 12th time Mrs. Obama has visited the state since becoming first lady.

The first lady will be by her husband's side for the presidential debate in New York Tuesday evening.