Michelle Obama Touts Illinois Gov. Quinn in New Radio Ad

The First Lady lends her star power to her home state's competitive governor race

Michelle Obama is taking to the radio waves to stump for Democratic Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who's entrenched in a bitter re-election battle against Republican rival Bruce Rauner.

A new radio ad released Wednesday by Quinn's campaign features the First Lady lauding the governor's work on behalf of veterans and as a proponent of raising the minimum wage. Since President Barack Obama isn't on the ballot this election cycle, meaning a lesser number of Democrats will hit the polls Nov. 4.—the party's voters come out most often for presidential races above other political showdowns—she urges supporters to step up and do their civic duty.

Says Michelle, "there's just too much at stake in this election to stay home. So for this election, Barack and I are casting our votes for our friend, Pat Quinn."

As previously reported, the Obamas will headline Chicago fundraisers this month to trumpet Quinn as better for Illinois than Rauner, the wealthy investor who recently poured another $1.5 million of his own fortune into his campaign war chest.

The president returns to Chicago on Wednesday for a private funder on Thursday at a downtown hotel and a speech on the economy at Northwestern University in Evanston. Michelle Obama will be in Chicago on Oct. 7 to support Quinn, and Hillary Clinton is expected on Oct. 8.

All three A-list allies have significant pull in Illinois and especially Chicago, a Democratic stronghold and a crucial voting bloc for Quinn who must maintain his tight grip on the city in order to fend off a formidable challenge from Rauner.

Without further ado, the audio and full text of Michelle Obama's pro-Quinn radio commercial:

"Illinois: We've got a choice to make between two very different candidates for governor, and two very different visions for our state. This is Michelle Obama, and I know Pat Quinn. Over the years I've seen firsthand that he has the courage to take on the tough issues and get the job done. I saw this when Pat and I worked together to help veterans and military spouses find jobs here in Illinois—and when Pat found so hard to encourage businesses to hire veterans. Now Pat's fighting to raise the minimum wage. He's working to create jobs here at home instead of shipping jobs overseas. And he'll never cut funding for military families or veterans to give a tax break to the wealthy. That's the choice. And there's just too much at stake in this election to stay home. So for this election, Barack and I are casting our votes for our friend, Pat Quinn."

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