“Frustrated and Fed Up”: Michelle Obama Takes on Trump

Michelle Obama got an extended and ear-piercing standing ovation as she made her much-anticipated return to the campaign trail, introducing Kamala Harris in Kalamazoo — or as the former first lady put it, “Kamalazoo” — Michigan.

One of Democrats’ most popular but elusive surrogates hit the trail 10 days before Election Day because, in her words, the race between Harris and former President Donald Trump is “too close for my liking.”

“I came out here to Michigan because I am someone who takes her own advice to heart,” Obama said. “I know that if we want to help this country finally turn the page on the politics of hatred and division, we can’t just sit around and complain. We’ve got to do something.”

Obama said she lays awake at night “wondering what in the world is going on” that Harris and Trump are deadlocked across the battleground states and in national polls. She expressed “concern” that “too many of us are still confused and buying into the lies and distortions from people who do not have our best interests at heart.” And she worked to combat the perception among voters, including some Democrats, that they don’t know enough about Harris to cast ballots for her by saying she’s being held to a higher standard than Trump — and by reminding voters of the former president’s failings.

“I hope you’ll forgive me that I’m a little frustrated that some of us are choosing to ignore Trump’s gross incompetence while asking Harris to dazzle us at every turn,” Obama said. Later, she added, “I hope you’ll forgive me that we will blow this opportunity to finally turn the page on this ugliness once and for all."