Michelle Obama, wife of former President, United States of America, Barrack Obama recalled the month his husband declared his first candidacy in Springfield on February 10, 2007.
I’ll never forget the day that Barack announced his candidacy for president in Springfield. February 10, 2007, was bitter cold —about 12 degrees. It was the kind of day where you might think twice about leaving the house if you didn’t have to.
I remember being backstage with the girls. Sasha was fussing over her pink hat, and I wondered if Malia was warm enough in her scarf. None of us really could have understood what was about to happen—how we were all about to take a journey that would catapult our family onto the national stage.
When we got outside and I looked up, I noticed there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. But when I looked out to the crowd, there were people as far as my eyes could see. These people had come from all over the state. Some of them were locals, some of them carpooled, others bussed in with their church group. They were people of all shapes and sizes, different backgrounds and identities. Strangers who had become friends as they waited around in the cold—all bound by their belief in us, in the promise of my husband, and of the vision he laid out for our country.
Seeing them out there on that freezing February day made me think: this could work. We could do this. And thanks to all of you, that’s exactly what we did. Do you remember that day, or were you involved in the campaign in any way? I would love to hear your story. Use the hashtag #Obama08 to share your memories.