Nearly 2,000 people crowded The Capital Center Performance Area to hear Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, present another perspective on recurring themes in the 2008 presidential election – the global economic crisis, reforming the health-care system, jobs, taxes and the middle class, and the war in Iraq.
Mrs. Obama spoke for about 30 minutes to Capital students, faculty and staff members, community members, local and state politicians, candidates for office and members of the national media.
It was the fourth time since September that a presidential campaign has visited Capital, beginning with a voter-registration drive and rally featuring Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain and running mate Gov. Sarah Palin on Sept. 29. Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr followed with a campaign stop in Mees Hall on Monday, Oct. 6, and Constitution Party presidential candidate Chuck Baldwin presented his views in Huntington Recital Hall on Oct. 13.
In each case, Capital granted the candidates’ requests to visit campus in the interest of presenting diverse perspectives and encouraging students to engage in the democratic process and meaningful discourse.