DETROIT – Michelle Obama will appeal to voters to participate in the electoral process by supporting Vice President Kamala Harris this Saturday, coinciding with the start of early voting in Michigan.

Obama’s event will take place in Kalamazoo, a key location in the state where Harris needs to galvanize Democratic backing.

“She is definitely our strongest advocate and someone who can effectively engage people in discussions about the election,” remarked Ashley Etienne, who has previously served as communications director for Harris and was a special assistant to Barack Obama during his presidency.

This marks Michelle Obama’s first rally of the election season, and currently the only one planned alongside Harris, who is neck-and-neck with Trump ahead of the November 5 election.

In addition, she will be participating in a high-profile rally in Atlanta on Tuesday organized by her nonprofit, When We All Vote, which aims to inform, register, and motivate young voters and people of color.

Michelle Obama as a Motivational Force

Michelle Obama is one of the most admired figures in the Democratic Party, and many believe she has the unique ability to inspire those who are typically less involved in politics.

“Michelle Obama has likely surpassed even Barack Obama in terms of popularity,” noted Democratic strategist Ashley Allison, who worked in the Obama administration. “Everyone wants her support right now.”

Harris’s campaign is seeking the former First Lady’s assistance just as crucial voters are starting to engage in the election discourse.

During a recent national convention, Michelle Obama’s call to Democratic leaders to “take action” in support of Harris was one of the most impactful moments broadcasted nationwide. She also criticized Trump in her speech for his comments about “Black jobs” during a debate against President Biden.

In her 2016 convention address, she inspired Democrats with the phrase, “when they go low, we go high,” while Hillary Clinton campaigned against Trump.

Since then, she has clarified that this principle is not about inaction. “It means making your contributions and opinions heard in a way that is true to yourself while benefiting others,” she explained.

Michelle Obama supported Clinton at various rallies, including a significant event in the final weeks of the campaign. Although Clinton won the popular vote, she ultimately lost the election to Trump due to Electoral College disparities.

In 2020, during the pandemic, Michelle Obama chose not to campaign in person. Biden went on to defeat Trump, who had taken over from her husband in the presidency, in that election.

Tight Race in Michigan

Obama’s visit to Michigan occurs at a crucial time in the campaign.

In the previous election, Biden narrowly won Kalamazoo by approximately 27,000 votes, significantly improving Democratic turnout from four years earlier, which helped flip the state.

The vice president is currently tied with Trump in Michigan with just over a week remaining before Election Day.

“Now is the time to bring in a strong advocate, and that’s what she represents,” said an informant familiar with the planning.

Last weekend, Harris was in Detroit to launch early voting. Meanwhile, Barack Obama joined the campaign in Detroit on Monday, appearing with rapper Eminem.

He also rallied alongside Harris in Atlanta on Thursday, where a crowd of 23,000 attended, marking Harris’s largest rally to date.

Barack Obama has been a significant campaign supporter for Harris in recent weeks, traveling across the nation since mid-October to advocate for her in cities like Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Las Vegas, Tucson, and Madison.

The Obamas officially backed Harris at the end of July after she became the probable Democratic nominee following Biden’s abrupt exit from the race. Michelle has also promoted Harris on social media since then.

Throughout the year, prior to Harris leading the ticket, Michelle Obama was actively involved with her nonprofit to help register new voters.

Encouraging First-Time Voters in Georgia

Kyle Lierman, CEO of Civic Nation, the organization for Obama’s various initiatives, mentioned that Georgia was selected for the upcoming Tuesday event due to its historical significance in the civil rights movement.

Obama aims to draw the attention of first-time voters during the event in Georgia, he stated.

“It’s vital for her to make strategic appearances that resonate nationwide,” added Lierman, who helped launch the voter registration campaign.

The Atlanta event will feature a lineup of entertainers including Ciara, Kerry Washington, and Shonda Rhimes.

On Thursday, Obama revealed that she has already voted by mail and is registered to vote in Chicago.