"Obama's wife makes his case"

Chicago Sun Times:

CONCORD, N.H. -- It was a sweaty afternoon in the gymnasium of Rundlett Middle School, where New Hampshire Democrats gathered for their annual convention on Saturday. One big fan was all the organizers had to cool the muggy room and keep the participants from slipping into lethargy. But Michelle Obama, defying the heat, wore a black T-shirt and skirt, and received a rousing response for her stump speech on behalf of her husband.

She had spent the day campaigning in New Hampshire with her mother, Marian, and her daughters, Malia and Sasha, while Barack Obama was sweeping through California attending fund-raisers.

"This is our first major foray onto the road, the three of us without Dad," she said.

Michelle Obama said she was speaking not just as Barack Obama's wife but as a mother, a professional and an American citizen who wants change.

"Like you I am deeply, deeply disappointed in how we have squandered so much of what this country was supposed to be about." There needs to be a change not just in politics but "in the tone of how we talk to one another, in how we reach compromise, and how we do it without making enemies. That's been Barack's trademark throughout his entire career, building relationships."

She concluded: "This man is special, that is why I am here. I believe he can bring something uniquely different to this process or else I promise you I wouldn't be here."

Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and Rep. Dennis Kucinich also spoke at the convention. But like Barack Obama, John Edwards and Hillary Clinton sent surrogates. Newly elected Gov. Martin O'Malley of Maryland spoke for Clinton, calling her "a leader tested under the glare of a national spotlight," and former Michigan Rep. David Bonior spoke for Edwards -- through a megaphone, standing on the gymnasium floor, because the speaker's stage was built by nonunion laborers.