PHILADELPHIA _ First lady Michelle Obama urged young people to get out the vote for Hillary Clinton during a speech Wednesday at La Salle University in Philadelphia, telling them their votes could be crucial for the Democratic presidential nominee.
Saying her husband's 2012 victory in Pennsylvania equated to a margin of 17 votes per precinct, Obama told the crowd in the Tom Gola Arena that by voting for Clinton _ and getting friends and family to do the same _ they would have an impact.
"But you could also help swing an entire precinct for Hillary's opponent with a protest vote, or by staying home," she said. The stakes, she said, "are far too high to take that chance."
Later, encouraging students to make sure they were registered to vote today, Obama said: "It's not enough to come to a rally and post some selfies."
As she argued that a candidate's comments on the campaign trail would reflect his or her conduct in the White House, Obama cast Donald Trump as dangerous and offensive. Without referring to the GOP presidential nominee by name, she referred to a candidate who "thinks that not paying taxes makes you smart" and who "makes cruel and insulting comments about women."
She also slammed Trump's record of questioning "whether my husband was even born in this country" _ questions that "cannot be blamed on others or swept under the rug," she said.
But Obama didn't portray Clinton as only an alternative to Trump. To those who "don't feel inspired" by the election, she said, "I have to disagree." She pointed to Clinton's resume _ from lawyer to first lady to U.S. senator and secretary of state.
"No one in our lifetime has ever had as much experience and exposure to the presidency. Not Barack, not Bill, nobody," Obama said. "And yes, she also happens to be a woman."
Obama also made an issue-based appeal for Clinton, telling young people that the next president will determine "whether you can afford your college tuition" and keep their health care when they graduate.
She framed the choice as whether to elect a president who "believes in science" and will combat climate change, who will "honor our proud history as a nation of immigrants," and who thinks "women deserve to make our own choices" _ "or not."
"We can't afford to be tired or turned off, not now," she said.
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