First lady to join Obama at Oct. 17 rally, fundraiser in Ohio for first joint campaign event

First lady to join Obama for Ohio appearances

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will make their first joint appearance of the midterm election season on Oct. 17 in Cleveland.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday that Mrs. Obama would join her husband for a fundraiser for Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. She’ll also join the president for a previously announced campaign rally later that day in Columbus.

Less than a month before the Nov. 2 elections, Obama is stumping hard to try to minimize Democratic losses in Congress.

He traveled to Maryland on Thursday to campaign for Gov. Martin O’Malley, followed by a Chicago event for Alexi Giannoulias (jeh-NOO’-lee-ehs), who is in a tight race for Obama’s former Senate seat.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will make their first joint appearance of the midterm election season on Oct. 17 in Cleveland.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs announced Thursday that Mrs. Obama would join her husband for a fundraiser for Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. She’ll also join the president for a previously announced rally for young Democrats later that day in Columbus.

Less than a month before the Nov. 2 elections, Obama is stumping hard to try to minimize Democratic losses in Congress.

He headed to Maryland on Thursday to campaign for Gov. Martin O’Malley, followed by a Chicago event for Alexi Giannoulias (jeh-NOO’-lee-ehs), who is in a tight race for Obama’s former Senate seat.