First lady Michelle Obama teamed up with Hillary Clinton on Thursday to fire up Democrats in the battleground state of North Carolina.
The two took the stage together for the first time this campaign season, a chance for Clinton and her most powerful surrogate to make a closing argument to one of the Democratic presidential nominee’s largest crowds this year.
{mosads}The former secretary of State spoke before the first lady, an acknowledgement of her star power this election season. Clinton was practically beaming as she said Obama’s voice is one “we need now more than ever.”
“Seriously, is there anyone more inspiring than Michelle Obama?” Clinton asked the audience in Winston-Salem.
Eight years after Clinton ran a hard-fought primary battle against Michelle Obama’s husband, there were no signs of lingering tensions between the two women. They embraced after the former secretary of State wrapped up her introduction, and Obama danced in her seat when Clinton complimented the Obamas’ dance moves.
“If people wonder, yes, Hillary Clinton is my friend,” Obama said.
“She is absolutely ready to be commander in chief on day one — and, yes, she happens to be a woman,” the first lady said, rattling off her counterpart’s resume to thunderous applause. “Hillary doesn’t play.”
The first lady has mostly stayed out of the political fray during President Obama’s time in office.
But she’s come off the sidelines in 2016 to ensure Clinton succeeds her husband in the White House and because she said she’s put off by Republican nominee Donald Trump’s inflammatory remarks about women, minorities and the disabled.
“I know there are some folks out there commenting that it’s unprecedented for a sitting first lady to be so actively involved … in a campaign,” Obama said. “That may be true, but this is truly an unprecedented election, and that’s why I’m out here.”
Unlike President Obama or Clinton, Trump has been reluctant to go after the first lady.
“Look, she’s the first lady,” he said in a recent interview with ABC News. “She’s got to say what she’s got to say. I mean, I understand that. That’s the game.”
Michelle Obama did not take the same approach, painting Trump as a divisive figure who would do the nation great harm if he wins in November. She lauded Clinton as a steady hand who is an example for the nation’s children.
“This is not about Republicans and Democrats. None of that matters this time around,” Obama said. “It’s about who will shape our children and the country we will leave for them.”
The first lady also took on Trump’s claim that the November election will be “rigged” against him, dismissing it as a ploy to help depress turnout. “They are trying to take away your hope.”
“If Hillary does not win the election, that is on us,” she added, urging North Carolinians to cast a ballot during the state’s early-voting period, which is underway. “It will be because we did not stand with her. It will be because we did not vote for her, and that is exactly what her opponent is hoping will happen.”
“That’s the strategy, to make this election so dirty and ugly that we don’t want any part of it,” she added.
The Clinton campaign sees North Carolina as a major prize. President Obama won the state in 2008 but lost it in 2012. The former secretary of State is clinging to a 2-point lead there, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.
In sending the first lady there, Clinton’s team is hoping she will provide a boost with young people and African-Americans, both key parts of Obama’s winning coalition.
Like her husband, Michelle Obama is enjoying strong favorability ratings, making her a valuable asset for Clinton. Fifty-nine percent of Americans has a positive view of her, according to a recent Fox News poll.