Before leaving town after visiting Minnesota military families on Friday, First Lady Michelle Obama swung by a fundraiser at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis to pick up some cash for her husband's re-election efforts.
"Barack can't do this alone," Obama told a crowd of cheering supporters Friday evening. "We need you by our side. We have so much more work to do."
About 360 people attended the fundraiser, organized jointly by the Obama for America campaign and the Democratic National Committee.
The attendees, who paid anywhere from $250 to $1,000 a head, included Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and U.S. Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton greeted the first lady at the airport. The take was reported to be at least $90,000.
The first lady touted her husband's record on job growth, the war on terror, health care, women's issues and gay rights.
Republicans, however, took the opportunity of the first lady's visit to blast the president's record.
"Even the first lady's strong personal popularity isn't enough to overcome the president's failed record and unpopular agenda -- Obamacare, the failed stimulus, the bailouts, record deficits and debt, high unemployment and sky high gas prices," said Minnesota GOP Chairman Pat Shortridge. "As President Obama's policies continue to fail Minnesota families and small businesses, Minnesota will probably be seeing even more of Mrs. Obama and less of the president."
The first lady was introduced by Minnesota campaign volunteer Kelly Bertenshaw, who shared her experience of battling breast cancer without health insurance. She and her young son lost their home to the medical bills, and she said she plans to volunteer for the 2012 Obama campaign to ensure that no one else "has to choose between saving their life and saving their home."
