Michelle Obama addressed SEIU staff by telephone yesterday, as they prepared to head to Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, and other battleground states to make the difference for Obama. Seventy-five percent of SEIU's International staff will hit the ground starting next week, joining more than 1,000 members taking time off their jobs and 100,000 nurses, janitors, child care providers, and other workers volunteering after work and on weekends to win on Election Day.  Staff and members alike will participate in voter registration, talk to fellow union members, recruit volunteers, and educate voters about what's at stake for working families in the upcoming election.

Obama thanked the staff for their commitment to winning in November and their work everyday to ensure that working families have access to affordable healthcare and a chance at the American Dream.

"In states where a few thousand votes will make the difference, the hundreds of SEIU staffers heading out to hit the doors, make calls, and get voters to the polls will tip the balance for Obama on Election Day," said Anna Burger, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer.

SEIU members are already committing record amounts of resources on this election--spending $85 million and breaking all past records on member involvement to elect Barack Obama and a pro-working family majority in Congress.