Michelle Obama in Minnesota today

Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama, wife of US Democratic presidential candidate Illinois Senator Barack Obama signals to the press that she will be right back as she goes back onto the campaign plane after arrival at Detroit Metropolitan International airport in Detroit, Michigan, September 28, 2008.
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images

The wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is scheduled to campaign in Minnesota today.

Michelle Obama is scheduled to make campaign stops in Rochester and St. Paul. She will appear at the Mayo Civic Center at noon with DFL Congressman Tim Walz.

Mrs. Obama will then travel to St. Paul where she will speak at Macalaster College. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., will also appear at the event.

Mrs. Obama will appear first at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester at 12:00 p.m. Then, she'll hold a forum at St. Paul's Macalester College at 4:00 p.m.

The campaign said Michelle Obama plans to focus on the economy and other major issues facing voters this election.

The husband of Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin will also campaign in Minnesota this week.

Todd Palin will talk to voters and outdoor enthusiasts in Duluth, Grand Rapids and Bemidji on Thursday.

He will visit Thief River Falls and Moorhead on Friday.

The visits come just days after Republican John McCain held a town hall meeting with voters in Lakeville.

Obama campaign spokesman Nick Kimball said both of Michelle Obama's events will be a great chance for Minnesota voters to learn more about Barack Obama's policies.

"What Minnesotans want us to focus on is the issues. They are looking for who is the candidate that is going to focus on the economy, who is going to get a handle on this crisis and have steady leadership to turn things around and get things back on track. And I think you are going to hear more about that from Michelle Obama," Kimball said.

Both events are free and open to the public.

Both presidential campaigns see Minnesota and several other Upper Midwest states as key to winning the election.