Valencia Mohammed

AFRO Staff Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. – On the eve of the celebration of the Rev. Martin Luther King’s birthday, Michelle Obama told hundreds here that her husband, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, would live up to the civil rights leader’s legacy if elected president.

“If you give us your support on Jan. 26, Obama will emerge as a president who will live what Dr. Martin Luther King and other civil rights leaders sacrificed for justice and equality for all,” she told the crowd gathered in the chapel at predominately-Black Benedict College.

“There is no other candidate who can boast of representing King’s sacrifice but my husband. I know, because I live in his dream everyday to make things better for all Americans.”

Barack Obama is the true candidate of change, she said.

“We just didn’t start talking about becoming change agents for this campaign,” she told the crowd.  “We have been change agents all of our lives.  We don’t want our children to inherit the mess we are in now.”

Obama, a graduate of Princeton and Harvard universities, spoke of her humble beginnings, and how despite the meager salary of her family, she was able to attend two of the best colleges in the world.

The Harvard law graduate spoke of her experience traveling from city to city campaigning.  She said she is campaigning not only for her husband, but for other Americans.

“I’m campaigning on behalf of millions of people, like myself, who really want change,” she said. “Do you know what drives me and Obama? It’s our children and all the children in America and around the world who deserve better than what we offer today.”

The mother of two girls reflected several times on the need to improve the economy, social change, health care, education, social security is driven by the future needs of her children, and those not born.

“We are the embodiment of sacrifice,” she said. “No other candidate can say this.”

“Through my travels, I found out that no matter where I was or who the people were, regular Americans, Black and White, are struggling.  We must put America back on its feet. This current form of politics is sucking the life out of whole some Americans.”

The public should stop asking the question of whether her husband can win the Democratic nomination or the White House, she said.

“We can win this race if you vote for him to change the direction in which this country is going,” she said.

Josh Stroman, student government president at Benedict College, was impressed by Obama’s speech.

“She delivers the message of hope so plain and clear,” he said.  “You can feel the Obama family living what they speak about. They make you want to work and strive for change. Their sacrifices make you want to do more to help others.”