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FLOTUS rallies with Democrats in Detroit

Posted at 12:22 PM, Oct 10, 2014
and last updated 2014-10-10 17:24:04-04

DETROIT, Mich. – Democratic supporters were lining up outside the Detroit Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts before 6:30 a.m. Friday ahead of First Lady Michelle Obama’s visit to the Motor City.

While many candidates were in the building, the event was geared toward rallying support for U.S. Rep. Gary Peters in the race for U.S. Senate with Terri Lynn Land and Mark Schauer in the race for governor against incumbent Gov. Rick Snyder.

While the race for governor was a dead heat in the middle of Sept., polling aggregator Real Clear Politics now shows the race favoring Snyder by four points.

Peters has held a polling lead over Land since late April.

20141010_101553The more than 1700-seat auditorium filled quickly with supporters and Democratic dignitaries from Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Rep. Sander Levin to State. Sen. Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer and House Minority Leader Tim Greimel.

Democratic-backed candidates  from across the state, including those for state Supreme Court and university boards also took the stage.

The First Lady’s visit adds to a growing list of high-profile visitors to the state of Michigan.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney made a stop in Livonia Oct. 2. Screen shot 2014-05-14 at 9.12.28 PM

Jeb Bush, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, is scheduled to be in Michigan on Monday.

His visit will be followed later in the week by former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, another prospective 2016 presidential candidate.

obama rally3President Obama is also expected to make a stop in Michigan before Election Day Nov. 4.

The rally for Democrats comes on the same day the Land Campaign held a press call with Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R- N.H.) and National Republican Committeewoman Ronna Romney McDaniel.

Governor candidates 2014The trio addressed what the Land Campaign has called anti-woman, anti-mother and sexist remarks directed at Land by the Peters Campaign and his supporters.

“With the First Lady in Michigan today, we certainly admire Mrs. Obama as a great mom for raising her daughters under unimaginable pressure…I certainly believe, that Mrs. Obama would not condone the rhetoric that we’ve heard that is being used against Terri Lynn Land in terms of her role as a mom and how that would inform her decision making in the U.S. Senate,” said Sen. Ayotte.

Official Portrait

Sen. Kelly Ayotte

Romney McDaniel echoed the senator’s comments, adding that the attacks are not unique.

“Recent attacks from the Peters campaign and even the media are absurd and sexist,” said Romney McDaniel. “This is not the first time a strong conservative woman has come under fire from the left. In 2012, my aunt, Ann Romney, was criticized by Democrat strategist Hillary Rosen for being a stay-at-home mom, choosing to raise 5 boys.”