This morning in Denver about 300 folks joined Michelle Obama at a roundtable discussion with four working women from across the country to discuss economic security for Americans families.

One of the women participating in the roundtable, Katherine Marcano, shared a bit about her life before introducing Michelle. Katherine lives in Iowa and balances being a full-time college student with caring for her 17-year-old sister, who has cerebral palsy, and her mother, who battles a debilitating heart condition.

Katherine struggles to secure adequate healthcare for her sister and mother. The Obama-Biden healthcare plan is an important factor in Katherine’s support of Barack and Joe. (Under the Obama-Biden plan, Katherine would receive nearly $3,000 in direct tax relief and lower health care costs.)

"Senator and Mrs. Obama inspire me to believe in myself and my country," said Katherine. "And now I give you the next First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama."

After offering brief remarks, Michelle recognized special guests Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, and Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner.

Then Michelle announced that two surprise guests would be joining them.

As suspense was building, Michelle shared a quick story from Monday night at the convention.

"I’ve been doing a lot of the surprise thing lately," said Michelle. "Last night, as we walked on stage, I told Malia and Sasha that there was going to be a surprise."

"Is it the Jonas Brothers?" inquired Malia with excitement.

"No, it’s not the Jonas Brothers," Michelle replied. "But they thought it was an okay surprise that Daddy was joining us by video."

With that, Michelle allayed the suspended of the crowd and called for the special guests. The doors to the left of the stage opened, and Joe and Jill Biden emerged. The crowd erupted with applause.

Joe greeted the group and recognized several special women in his life - his wife Jill, his sister Valerie, and his daughter Ashley.

Each of the women on the panel shared her story, her struggles, her hopes, and her reasons for supporting Barack Obama and Joe Biden in this campaign.

View pictures of the event below:

To read the Obama-Biden plan to support working women and families, click here.

We want to show the faces of our movement to the world. So we’ve created a new site – Signs of Hope and Change where we will collect and feature photos of our supporters across the nation. Whether you live in the forests of Vermont, the mountains of Colorado, or the deserts of Arizona, show us that you stand for change.

The Signs of Hope and Change page includes instructions on how to download and print a Change sign, take a great photo of yourself in your own backyard, and upload your photo directly to our website.

Be one of the faces for change across America.  

I’m not just here to see confetti. I’m here to learn. - Monica Stonier

Monica Stonier is not just a teacher. She’s a learner. As a sixth grade teacher and first-time delegate, Monica’s at the convention to take part in the inner-workings of the party nominating process and set an example of civic involvement for her students. (She’s also seizing the opportunity to showcase her snazzy headwear!)

Monica hails from Vancouver, Washington, where she teaches sixth graders language arts and social studies. One of her favorite things about Barack is his candor.

I like that he’s realistic about how much it’s going to take to turn this country around. He doesn’t try to paint things as not being complex. I appreciate his honesty and like that he means exactly what he says. I try to teach my kids in the classroom to be like that.

Senator Obama just issued a statement on Russia’s Decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as Independent States…

I condemn Russia’s decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states and call upon all countries of the world not to accord any legitimacy to this action.  
 
The United States should call for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to condemn Russia’s decision in coordination with our European allies. The U.S. should lead within the UN and other international forums to cast a clear and unrelenting light on the decision, and to further isolate Russia internationally because of its actions. The OSCE must also send a serious monitoring group to Georgia.

Read the rest of his statement here.

Senator Obama just issued this statement on the Census income, health insurance  and poverty numbers…

Today’s news confirms what America’s struggling families already know – that over the past seven years our economy has moved backwards. We have now lived through first so-called economic ‘expansion’ on record where typical families saw their incomes fall, and working-age households lost more than $2,000 from their paychecks. Another 816,000 Americans fell into poverty in 2007 – including nearly 500,000 children – bringing the total increase in Americans in poverty under President Bush to 5.7 million. And on Bush’s watch, an additional 7.2 million Americans have fallen into the ranks of the uninsured.  This is the failed record of George Bush’s economic policies that Senator McCain has called ‘great progress.’ While Senator McCain is promising four more years of the failed Bush economic policies, my economic plan will restore bottom up economic growth that benefits all Americans by cutting taxes for working Americans, providing affordable, accessible health care for all, and investing in new energy, education and infrastructure so we can create millions of good jobs here in America.

Sen. Obama issued a statement today honoring Women’s Equality Day…

Beginning with a meeting in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848, women organized themselves and worked to secure the right to vote so they could make their voices heard through the ballot box.  On this day in 1920, the 19th Amendment passed and women could no longer be denied that right.
 
As we honor the heroic women who would not accept the world as it was, we are reminded that we hold the ability to remake the world as it should be. That belief drove women like Hillary Clinton and Speaker Pelosi to shatter myths and breakdown barriers. That belief drives me today as I think about the kind of world I want for my daughters and future generations.
 
Now, 88 years later, women’s voices make up a majority of the electorate but women are still fighting for change - equal pay, affordable child care, sick days, retirement security, and the sort of programs that help women balance work life and home life-  and as President, I will lead that fight.