Michelle Obama rallies Michigan Dems in Detroit

In speech after speech at the Detroit Music Hall Friday, the message was clear and simple.
In 2008 and 2012, "We won, because we showed up and voted," said first lady Michelle Obama to a crowd of about 1,800 people.
That's the primary strategy for Democrats this year: getting a good portion of the 900,000 Democrats who didn't vote in the 2010 election to show up at the polls on Nov. 4.
"When we vote, we win," state Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing said, starting a refrain in the audience and among the dozen or so speakers who followed her.
Obama's main task was to herald the candidacies of Mark Schauer and Gary Peters, the Democrats running for governor and U.S. Senate, respectively.
"Gary and Mark, they get it. They know the American dream, because they have lived it," Obama said. "So, Michigan, if you want a senator and governor who share your values, then you've got to vote for Gary Peters and Mark Schauer. You've got to do it.That's why I'm here."
The two top-of-the-ticket candidates are hoping to capitalize on the popularity of Michelle Obama, whose favorability numbers are in the mid-60s.
"We'll give Carl Levin the type of honor he deserves," said Peters, who is hoping to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Carl Levin. "And a very important way to honor his incredible legacy is to send a Democrat to Washington, D.C."
Schauer noted that the policies of Gov. Rick Snyder have hurt Michigan families, and he reiterated his promises to repeal a tax on retiree pensions and the right-to-work law that Snyder helped usher in during his first term in office.
"His choices may work if you're wealthy or big corporations," said Schauer of Snyder. "But if you're a student, teacher, parent or senior, his choices aren't working for you, and they're not going to."
Nearly the entire Democratic ticket came to the rally -- along with an enthusiastic crowd.
"I like it that our children are seeing a black family in the White House," said Nabil Leach of Detroit. "That will help uplift their spirits."
Leach said he has already cast his absentee ballot, voting for Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township in the U.S. Senate race, gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer, and especially Secretary of State candidate Godfrey Dillard, whom Leach said he has been supporting since his first run for Congress in 1996.
"This is what winning looks like right here in this room," Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Lon Johnson said in the moments before the first lady took the stage.
And when she did, the crowd jumped to their feet and cheered. She peppered her speech with "Remember that?" and "Did you hear me," to engage the audience. And while she praised the Democratic ticket fighting for victory on Nov. 4, she also gave props to her husband, President Barack Obama.
"Since my husband has been president of the United States, by almost every economic measure, we are better off today," she said. "Here are some facts: Businesses have created more than 10 million new jobs. The unemployment rate has dropped from 10% to 5.9%. He bet on the American car companies."
Republicans had a different view of the event.
"First lady Michelle Obama's visit was a nice attempt to rally her fellow Democrats, but Michigan families aren't going to easily forget the fact that every vote for a Democratic candidate this fall is a vote for her husband's failed policies," said Michigan Republican Party Chairman Bobby Schostak. "Gary Peters, Mark Schauer and fellow Democrats down the ticket are sure to fulfill that guarantee, but they'll be the last ones to admit it."
But the first lady said that was to be expected.
"They're praying that we're just sitting around and waiting for someone else to fix our problems," she said. "But races like this can be won or lost by a few thousand or a few hundred votes.
"We all need to be as passionate and hungry for this election as we were in 2008 and 2012," she said.
Next week, the national spotlight will continue to shine on Michigan when 2016 presidential hopefuls former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush comes to Grand Rapids, Lansing and Troy for the GOP; and former first lady, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton comes to the state for the Democrats.