First lady Michelle Obama will watch the final State of the Union address with two of the earliest supporters of her husband’s campaign.
Edith Childs, a county councilmember from South Carolina, and Earl Smith, a veteran from Texas, were both invited to serve as a reminder “of the spirit of those who believe that every person has the ability to inspire and implement change.”
{mosads}Both are African-American and both have several grandchildren. Both have been invited to the White House, after meeting Obama on the campaign trail in 2008.
“The guests personify President Obama’s time in office and most importantly, they represent who we are as Americans: inclusive and compassionate, innovative and courageous,” a White House official said.
Smith is a Vietnam veteran who gave Obama a military patch that he’d held onto for 40 years, which Obama then kept throughout the campaign. The two met in an elevator at a hotel in February 2008.
Childs first met Obama in June 2007, when he surprised a small group of supporters with a personal visit. She is credited with creating what the campaign called its unofficial slogan — “Fired up!” — which was frequently repeated at rallies to fire up the crowds.