Pensacola News Journal

A healthy crowd of people has gathered outisde the Pensacola Civic Center in anticipation of today's rally featuring Michelle Obama.

Many of those in attendance began arriving about 5:15 a.m., more than five hours before the doors to the Civic Center are scheduled to open.

The "get-out-the-vote" rally is free and open to the public. Those who attend do not need a ticket to get in.

The last time a Democratic presidential candidate carried Northwest Florida, Sen. Barack Obama wasn't even born.

So some might be surprised that the Democratic presidential nominee is sending his wife, Michelle Obama, to Pensacola today, just two weeks from the Nov. 4 election.

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Obama campaign officials know this neck of the woods is a traditional Republican stronghold, but they're fighting for every vote, whether they carry the region or not.

"Florida is extremely important, and we're serious about every part of the state," said Kevin Cate, Obama North Florida spokesperson. "Every vote counts, and we're not taking any vote for granted."

Which is why the Obama campaign has sent and is sending high-profile surrogates to Northwest Florida to try to siphon off a few votes in heavy Republican areas. In late September, retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark campaigned for Obama in Pensacola.