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Thousands Hear Michelle Obama At 18th & Vine

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-768117.mp3

Kansas City, MO – More than three thousand people gathered at 18th and Vine yesterday to hear First lady hopeful Michelle Obama. The rally was the Obama campaign's first big events in the heart of Kansas City's historically black community.

A giant American flag hung behind the stage, which was in the middle of the street between the American Jazz Museum and the Gem Theater. Michele Obama said she took a 30 second tour of the museum, before coming out to speak to a crowd of supporters. They packed 18th street several blocks back to the Paseo. Obama said they had only a week left to register voters.

OBAMA: We all know people in our lives . . . sometimes they may be a little triflin'. But sometimes they may just be jaded. And we're going to need you to reach out to them and say, this time it's going to be different.

Michelle Obama spoke for about 30 minutes, about her own family, the economy and education. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, who supported Senator Hillary Clinton in the primary, stood next to Obama while she spoke.

Sylvia Maria Gross is storytelling editor at KCUR 89.3. Reach her on Twitter @pubradiosly.
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