US election campaign diary: 12 days to go

Senior 9NEWS correspondent Tom Steinfort is on the road in the US covering the election. Join him for daily coverage of the campaign.

Donald Trump doesn’t have the trump card in this election, Hillary Clinton does. 

“Oh my god, I love Michelle Obama,” said the receptionist at my hotel in North Carolina. 

I had just told her I was in town to see the First Lady speak in her town. 

“She is amazing. I’m taking the day off to see her. The only other time I’ve done that was to go watch Beyonce sing for Obama at his inauguration.” 

According to the experts, there is no more popular campaigner in this battle than Michelle Obama – she’s been dubbed the Democrats “not so secret weapon”. 

And today for the first time ever, the First Lady will campaign alongside the woman who wants to be America’s first female President. 

Their event in this crucial swing state comes at an interesting time in this election race – as Donald Trump for the second day in a row closes the gap in the polls. 

The new figures show the battleground states of Florida and Nevada are moving towards the Republicans, swings that are essential if they are to revive their spluttering campaign for the White House. 

The campaign is alive again, and one thing a lot of people here keep mentioning is Brexit. 

Seems odd perhaps? Well, not really. 

In the lead up the UK’s EU referendum in June, the polls largely had the “remain” campaign comfortably ahead, but as we all now know, they were comprehensively beaten in the only vote that actually counted. 

And the angry voters that supported the “leave” campaign are largely the same demographic as those who are supporting Trump – people who feel they’ve been screwed over by the system and the elite. 

They are passionate and they are people who will be sure to turn out to vote on November 8. 

People who supported the “remain” campaign had a much lower voter turnout in the UK referendum, and it’s thought Hillary supporters may also be a bit complacent and not turn out as strongly on polling day as well. 

And that’s why these public appearances by Michelle Obama today and Barack Obama tomorrow are so important for the Democrats, to reignite the fire in the belly of their base. 

Some of them may think that given recent scandals surrounding Donald Trump that this election result is a foregone conclusion. It’s definitely not.