Michelle Obama meets Warren audience

WARREN — Every step on his run for the presidency, Barack Obama’s met with critics who dismissed him or said his accomplishments were essentially meaningless, his wife, Michelle, said.

And with every step, the Democratic presidential candidate is proving those critics wrong, his wife told an enthusiastic crowd of about 400 at the Packard Music Hall in Warren today.

During her nearly one-hour speech, Obama spoke of problems facing the country — health care, making a living wage, getting a good education — but she never discussed a solution for any of them.

Instead, Obama delivered a populist message of “change” and “hope,” similar to the speeches her husband typically gives on the campaign trail.

Obama also addressed what some say is her husband’s lack of experience. She said her husband has a wide range of experience including being a community activist, a constitutional and civil rights lawyer, an Illinois Senate member for eight years, and serving as a U.S. senator since 2005.

“The question isn’t whether Barack Obama is ready to be president,” she said. “Barack will be one of the most brilliant leaders we’ll see in a long time. He’s ready. He’ll be ready on Day 1, Day 2, Day 20, Day 200.”

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