Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama campaign together

US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Thursday was joined at a campaign rally for the first time by first lady Michelle Obama. “It doesn’t get any better than being here with our most amazing first lady, Michelle Obama,” the Democratic Party’s nominee said at a rally in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “Seriously, is there anyone more inspiring than Michelle Obama?”

Clinton praised Obama for advocating for the education of girls around the world and for advocating for improved nutrition for kids.
 “By any measure she has been an outstanding first lady who has made us all so proud,” Clinton said. Obama has become one of Clinton’s main surrogates in the campaign, throwing herself into the role of defending Clinton despite differences in the 2008 campaign when Clinton was running against her husband. 

North Carolina is a swing state in which Clinton holds a slight lead in recent polls of likely voters. Both Clinton and Obama urged voters to cast their ballots early. 

Obama said she wanted to take the moment to thank Clinton publicly for being a friend to her and her family. “I am grateful for Hillary for her leadership and her courage and what she is going to do for this country,” Obama said. “It’s going to be good.”