Former First Lady Michelle Obama drew a massive crowd to Norristown, Pennsylvania, on Saturday evening.
The event was part of a get-out-the-vote rally, held just days before the U.S. presidential election.
MICHELLE OBAMA FOR KAMALA HARRIS
The event was such a hit that organisers had to turn away thousands due to fire safety limits.
Norristown, located in Montgomery County, holds strategic importance for Democrats, according to ABC.
High turnout here can influence the outcome and make all the difference in what’s expected to be a close race.
“You know I love you, because I don’t like politics, and I’m out here again,” Obama told the cheering crowd.
MICHELLE OBAMA AND ALICIA KEYS
Her presence electrified the audience.
Alicia Keys, also a Harris supporter, added to the excitement by reminding attendees of their “power and importance” in the upcoming vote.
“You are the most important, actually,” she told Pennsylvanians.
Her words brought wide smilesand a few looks of awe.
MICHELLE OBAMA AND THE ELECTIONS
The energy was tangible. Gov. Josh Shapiro, a native of the area and a rising star in the Democratic Party, was on hand to rally support, too.
Shapiro took to the stage to stress Pennsylvania’s significance in the presidential election, according to The Guardian.
“It actually may be the only thing Kamala Harris and Donald Trump agree on,” he quipped. “Whoever wins Pennsylvania is likely to be the next president of the United States.”
In her speech, Obama didn’t hold back.
HARRIS VS TRUMP
Michelle Obama criticised Harris’s opponent, describing him as someone who embodied hatred that had been long-present in America. She said this hate had grown “more insidious, cunning, and bombastic” over time.
Her words hit home for many in the crowd, including 69-year-old Bonita Patterson. Bonita is a teacher from Philadelphia, who had come to support Harris.
“He opened up a bandage that had a lot of puss underneath,” she said, reflecting on what she called a surge of open racism in the country.
MICHELLE OBAMA AND THE IMPACT OF VOTES
Obama continued with powerful imagery, urging the crowd to consider the impact of their votes, according to AP News.
“You can spend a lifetime carefully, painstakingly constructing something brick by brick,” she said.
“But it takes only one big wave, one strong gust of wind, and all your efforts can be swept away in an instant. That’s what’s at stake in this election.”
CALL TO ACTION
Michelle Obama call to action resonated with attendees like Sonya Harris, 53, who had never participated in political canvassing before. However, she is actively involved this year.
“We have to win,” she said. “There’s really no alternative. We just can’t go back to chaos and confusion.”
Obama and Keys urged Pennsylvanians to rally their friends and family in these final days. Obama reminded everyone that close elections can come down to just a few votes.
POLITICAL CLIMATE
“That’s your group chat,” she joked. “Your fantasy football league.”
The rally ended with chants of “Yes we can!” and “We did, and we can do it again,” Michelle Obama responded to the crowd’s enthusiasm.
As they left the rally, attendees carried a renewed sense of purpose and unity. For South African readers, this rally was a powerful reminder of the importance of each vote.
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