philadelphia <u+2014> when bill clinton introduced <u+201c>the finest surrogate, supporter any candidate for president ever had,<u+201d> everyone on philadelphia<u+2019>s independence mall knew the person he was talking about. michelle obama has been in many ways the star of hillary clinton<u+2019>s campaign <u+2014> it was her speech at the democratic convention that people were still talking about days and weeks later. on monday night, at the campaign<u+2019>s final rally before election day, mrs. obama<u+2019>s job was, again, to convince the voters who have come to love and trust her that they should also love and trust hillary clinton <u+2014> or, at least, that they should vote for her. as part of her pitch, she described the kind of leader the country needs: someone <u+201c>who takes this job seriously<u+201d> and is <u+201c>ready to be commander in chief on day one.<u+201d> someone <u+201c>who sees the dignity and humanity in all of us and who will encourage us to see the better angels in one another.<u+201d> someone <u+201c>who sees us not as rich or poor but as hard-working folks doing the best we can with what we got.<u+201d> someone <u+201c>who sees us not as democrats and republicans but as neighbors and friends who all love this country, who sees us not just as black or white, immigrant or native-born, but as brothers and sisters who are all infinitely worthy, all an important part of this great american story.<u+201d> <u+201c>i am here tonight,<u+201d> she said, <u+201c>because i believe with all my heart and soul that hillary clinton is that leader.<u+201d> her speech was a rebuke to donald trump, who has none of the qualifications she laid out. it was also stirring counsel for mrs. clinton. the clinton campaign has been criticized in the past for focusing on mr. trump<u+2019>s deficits rather than on their candidate<u+2019>s strengths, and all the speakers on monday were sure to enumerate mrs. clinton<u+2019>s leadership qualities. mrs. clinton herself laid out a clear set of priorities for her presidency, should she win on tuesday: good schools, affordable college, criminal justice reform, gun safety, a higher minimum wage and equal pay for equal work. but it was mrs. obama who best articulated a vision in telling the crowd, some waving <u+201c>stronger together<u+201d> signs, some balancing their children on their shoulders, what their next four years could look like. if hillary clinton can achieve what michelle obama says she can, if she can bring together the country after a campaign season filled with hate and demagoguery, if she can encourage americans to see one another as worthy of the nation<u+2019>s highest ideals, then she will deserve every vote cast for her on tuesday. follow the new york times opinion section on facebook and twitter (@nytopinion) , and sign up for the opinion today newsletter .
michelle obama<u+2019>s challenge for hillary clinton
anna north