Michelle Obama

DENVER - With a night under their belts to soak it in, many of the Washington state delegates were still soaking in the program from the convention Monday night. Kristine' Reeves, an Obama delegate and the Spokane County Democratic Party Chair, found the slate led by Michelle Obama and Sen. Ted Kennedy to be particularly emotional and profound.

"I think they were moving," Reeves told PolitickerWA.com." They were inspirational and awe-inspring and, regardless of what FOX News will tell you, they were motivational in a lot of ways."

DENVER - Michelle Obama, the wife of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, Tuesday oversaw a roundtable discussion at the Democratic National Convention on economic issues that affect women. It was a role she was very familiar with, having done dozens of these events across the country throughout her husband's campaign, including one in Washington earlier this year.

Obama was joined by a group of women from across the country who have faced economic hardships as well as four of the country's five women governors: Arizona's Janet Napolitano, Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, Delaware's Ruth Ann Minner and Washington's Chris Gregoire. Many of the governors said they have faced similar hardships in their own lives.

Despite the event being geared toward women, the roundtable had one surprise special guest - Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware. It was just his second public appearance since his Barack Obama named him as his running mate in Springfield, Ill. this past Saturday.

Check back tomorrow morning to view my sketchpad for day two of the Democratic National Convention, and go to my national blog to follow convention coverage by cartoonists from around the country.

The Democratic National Convention will be called to order at 5:00 PM EST today, with a theme of "One Nation."  Featured speakers include Michelle Obama, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), former President Jimmy Carter, and Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, who will introduce a tribute to her uncle, U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.). 

A fundraising lunch held yesterday by Michelle Obama on behalf of Governor Chris Gregoire (D-Olympia) raised at least $320,000 for the governor's campaign against Dino Rossi, the Seattle Post Intelligencer reported. Added to the figures from the Gregoire campaign's latest filings, the boost would bring the governor's current cash on hand to approximately $4.54 million.

Obama told the crowd of 1,600 that the tight race, a re-match of 2004's close election, was not necessary given Gregoire's record.

"What are you all thinking? This should be over." the P-I quoted Obama as saying. “Don't change a thing, it's not broken”

Summer fundraisers with high-profile national figures are commonplace, especially for incumbents with a challenger hot on their heels, like U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert with Newt Gingrich on Father's Day this or President Bush last year.

But when Michelle Obama, wife of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, comes to town this Thursday to raise money for Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire, things will be different.

For starters, Mrs. Obama isn't running for, nor has she ever held any office. But more importantly, this fundraiser has seating for 1600.

Michelle Obama: Getty ImagesPotential future first lady Michelle Obama, the wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, is coming to Seattle this summer to host a fundraiser for Gov. Chris Gregoire. The event will take place at the WaMu Theater at Qwest Field in Seattle July 17, 2008 at noon.

"When Barack Obama is elected president, our state will have a partner in the White House - a leader who will support our fight to provide children healthcare, take on climate change and help working families," Gregoire said in a press release about the event.

Michelle Obama will be in Spokane tomorrow at 4:00 PM.

The wife of Sen. Barack Obama will be headed to Eastern Washington on Friday to campaign.