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October 24, 2013 · 6:56 PM

Michelle Obama to tout women candidates

By Emily Goodin – 10/24/13 10:15 AM ET

Michelle Obama will be touting female candidates next month at an event for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), a sign she may be helping more women run in 2014.

The first lady will be in New York to address the Democratic Women’s Senate Network policy conference, The Hill has confirmed. The group, chaired by freshman Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), is an arm of DSCC, which has several women running for the upper chamber in 2014: Natalie Tennant in West Virginia, Alison Lundergan Grimes in Kentucky and Michelle Nunn in Georgia.

Most of the 17 female Democratic senators are expected to attend the luncheon, which will double as a fundraiser. Ticket prices range from $250 to $50,000, according to The New York Times, which first reported the news.

It’s a rare move for the famously non-political first lady. Obama did get involved in the Massachusetts Senate special election, campaigning and fundraising for now-Sen. Ed Markey, and stumped for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, but her campaign appearances for candidates other than her husband are limited.

She has been a strong fundraiser for the party. A planned West Coast swing was canceled during the government shutdown, but she is expected to join President Obama in his post-shutdown fundraising blitz, including an event in Washington for the Democratic National Committee.
This Friday, the first lady will address the Women’s Leadership Forum National Issues Conference in Washington.

Honoring Women in Washington, DC

Last Tuesday evening several of us attended a reception held by the Coalition for Women’s Appointments (BPW Foundation is a member of this Coalition) saluting women appointees in the Obama Administration. It was held at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in DC and was packed. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius spoke and demonstrated her great sense of humor and Coalition Chair Irene Natividad was generous with compliments for the Coalition of Women Appointees and the event’s co-sponsors including BPW Foundation. Secretary Sebelius was a Coalition recommendation and we took full credit. Most of the women’s groups were represented. Tina Tchen, Director White House Office of Presidential Personnel and Executive Director White House Council on Women and Girls spoke and was charming as usual. The new Director of White House Personnel, Nancy Hogan, said that there are over 1,000 women appointees in the Obama Administration. 325 Appointees RSVPd to the event and the room and mezzanine were near capacity with over 300 people. Check out the attached picture of Secretary Sebelius, myself and Debbie.