Michelle Obama makes pitch

Barack Obama -- returning to the campaign trail today with events in Nevada and New Mexico after spending time with his ailing grandmother -- deputized his wife to give the weekly Democratic radio address.

Michelle Obama emphasizes her personal story and her family, particularly daughters Malia and Sasha, and appeals to voters on that basis.

"For me, the issues the heart of this election aren’t just political, they’re personal," she says. "I know they are for you, too.

"Maybe you’re a student who wonders if you’ll be able to pay off your loans or find a good job after you graduate. Maybe you’re a small business owner unsure of whether you can pay your employees next month. Maybe you’re a mother who puts off taking your child to the doctor because you can’t afford the co-pay. So we all have a choice to make. And when you look at the issues, and the candidates, and their plans for our future -- the choice is clear," she continues.

"There’s only one candidate in this race who can bring about the change we need, restore our economy, and rebuild our middle class. That candidate is Barack Obama."

She then turns her pitch to making sure Obama's supporters actually cast ballots to seal the deal.

"In 2004, 16 million Americans who could have voted didn’t," she says. "Yet, the election was decided by just 59,000 votes in Ohio. This time, we can’t wake up November 5th only to discover we fell just short and didn’t elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden. We can’t look back and think about what might have been.

"So visit your neighbors," she urges. "Listen to their concerns. Tell them what’s at stake. Then take them with you to vote....If you do, we will win this election. We’ll put Barack Obama in the White House. And we will change this country and fulfill the hopes of all those like my father, who work so hard to give their children a better future and guarantee that the American Dream endures."