First lady botches name of Dem Senate candidate at rally

First lady Michelle Obama repeatedly botched the name of Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) during an event to support his Senate campaign Friday in Des Moines, Iowa.

On at least three occasions the first lady referred to the Iowa lawmaker as “Bruce Bailey,” according to a reporter for The Des Moines Register. 

{mosads}Republicans immediately seized on the gaffe, mocking the first lady’s mistake on Twitter.

“In defense of FLOTUS, [Democrats] might consider finding this Bailey guy,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Brad Dayspring. “Gotta be more likable and probably hasn’t threatened to sue neighbors.”

“WH Legal Counsel might want to prepare for a call from Bruce Braley, gotta avoid a ‘litigious situation’ over mispronouncing name,” Dayspring continued.

The remark was a reference to a letter Braley wrote his homeowner’s association over a neighbor’s free-roaming chickens. The letter has become an issue in the tight Iowa Senate race between Braley and GOP candidate Joni Ernst.

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Justin Barasky shrugged off the incident on Twitter.

“Huge story,” he said sarcastically. “Please keep us updated.”

The first lady is not the only prominent Democrat to make the mistake. Former President Clinton made the same mispronunciation during a campaign event last month.

“You know what you ought to do to honor the Harkin legacy, and that is to elect Bruce Bailey, a new governor, and all these congressional candidates,” Clinton said, according to the Register.

But the first lady did make another notable mistake. According to the Daily Beast, the first lady called Braley a Marine Corps veteran, although that is not true. The first lady apparently meant to refer to Braley’s father, who served in the Marine Corps.