Michelle Obama in Tucson: 'I can't tell you how special this place is to us'

"Will we be a country where opportunity is limited to just a few at the top?” Mrs. Obama said to 450 people who paid $150 to $10,000 per person to attend the fundraiser at the Tucson Convention Center. “Or will we be a place where if you work hard, you can get ahead no matter who you are or how you started out."

During a 25-minute speech touting the work of President Obama and his vision for the future, she said Democrats can win the traditionally Republican state of Arizona this November if people get to work.

"I know we are going to do it here because of people like you," she said at the beginning of her speech. And at the end, she said, “Let me tell you something Tucson, it is time for us to get moving. It is time for us to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”  

The First Lady took the stage just before 7 p.m. to a standing ovation from a boisterous crowd. Wearing a sleeveless, bright color-block dress, she said: “You all sound like you're fired up and ready to go so I'll just take my shoes off and go home," drawing laughs.

She said it was a pleasure and honor to be in Tucson again. She accompanied the president in a visit here in January 2011 for a memorial after the Tucson shootings in which Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head.

"I can't tell you how special this place is to us," the First Lady said.

She thanked Giffords’ mother, Gloria Giffords, for attending the event and told her that she should know how inspired she and President Obama are by her daughter’s courage and determination.

"We love her and are with her, with you, with the family every step of the way," Mrs. Obama said.

A Pima Community College student introduced her at the convention center: Maria Elena Moreno, an Air Force veteran active in helping her fellow vets adjust to college life.

Outside, Keith Van Heyningen and Jill Henderson, two Tea Party members, took up position at Congress Street and Granada Avenue in the hopes the First Lady would pass her by. Armed with a “Nobama” sign, Henderson said she wanted to remind people that “we can’t afford another four years of Obama.”

They were part of a contingent of about a dozen people in the vicinity of the Leo Rich Theater at the Tucson Convention Center awaiting the arrival of the First Lady.

Van Heyningen said he wanted Michelle Obama to know she wasn’t welcome.

“I’m here for the fact we have the first lady coming to preach about urban gardens and fat children when we have much larger issues to deal with,” Van Heyningen said.

A block over, at Jackson Street and Church Avenue, 77-year-old Korean War veteran Walter Graham held up a sign announcing the fact there are 190 days until the presidential election and he’s a Hannity and Fox TV fan.

“I’ve been a leader my whole life and people follow good leaders. He’s not a good leader,’ Graham said of the president. “I’m proud of my country, but my country is in pretty bad shape right now.”

Huachuca City residents Mike and Victoria Bettencourt drove up to Tucson just hoping to see a glimpse of the First Lady.

“We’re really strong supporters of President Obama and Michelle,” Victoria Bettencourt said as they stood across the street from Graham. “We wanted to show her not all Arizonans are against the Obama administration.”

Kevin and Tanishia Hamilton also turned out to show their support for the Obamas. “I’m a supporter of the fact he doesn’t mind getting out there and trying to do the right thing for the country and not special interest groups,” Kevin Hamilton said. “I think he’s done a good job considering what he was dealt.”

Earlier, Mrs. Obama was greeted by two students when she stepped off her plane at Tucson International Airport shortly about 5:45 p.m. She hugged one of the students, and walked with them to a group of school children.

The First Lady shook hands and chatted with the students, crouching down to talk to a 5-year-old.

Along with her multi-hued dress, she wore lavender earrings and blue heels, the same ensemble she sported at a Colorado event earlier today. She pinned her dress at her knees because of the windy Tucson afternoon, as she made her way down rows to chat with each kid. She grinned, pointing and gesturing. The kids were calm, not appearing to be starstruck or shy.

“It was phenomenal. I had so much fun,” said 11-year-old Haile Thomas, one of the two students who got to walk Mrs. Obama from her plane to the other students.  “It kind of felt like a dream, to actually see the First Lady in person and escort her to the other kids. It was fantastic.”

Haile and the other students volunteer at Tucson Village Farm, which is supported by the University of Arizona and Pima County Cooperative Extension. At the farm, the kids grow, harvest and cook food, and encourage healthy choices, a goal that meshes with the First Lady's "Let's Move!" campaign against childhood obesity.

Alex Sparks, 11, said he was nervous to meet the First Lady, but managed to compose himself to hold a conversation.

“It was really neat,” Alex said. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She asked us about what we do on the farm; what we grow.”

Annika Shepp, 8, was so excited after Obama left she could hardly stop bouncing around.

“She asked me how old I was, and then she asked me ‘What do you do,’ ” Annika said. “I said I make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the people that are starving and can’t eat.”

Haile said Obama was impressed with what she’s heard about the kids’ work on the farm.

“She just said our work was phenomenal,” Haile said. “Really inspiring.”

After speaking with the group for 15 minutes, Mrs. Obama posed for a group photo, had a group hug with the little ones and was escorted off in the motorcade.

The plane carrying the first lady, a white 737 emblazoned with an American flag on the tail fin, had touched down in Tucson about 5:40 p.m.  for a visit that was to last a couple of hours.

Mrs. Obama is scheduled to visit Las Vegas and Albuquerque on Tuesday.

Stay with StarNet for updates.