Michelle Obama draws crowd in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C., April 9 (UPI) -- Barack Obama's wife, Michelle Obama, Wednesday defended the Democratic presidential hopeful against charges he lacks experience to lead the United States.

Speaking to a crowd of 5,700 at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C., Michelle Obama said her husband has the experience, temperament and intellect to be president, The Raleigh News & Observer reported.

"The thing we have to understand in this race, North Carolina, is that Barack Obama is ready to lead," Michelle Obama said in her final stop on a campaign swing through the state prior to the May 6 Democratic primary.

"Barack has won more states, and he has won in all in kinds of states -- big states and small states, red states and blue states, and swing states. He won in primaries and caucuses," she said. "When was the last time you saw a candidate who could cobble together such diverse victories in states as Utah and Washington state, and Louisiana and Virginia, and Montana and Illinois?"

Former President Bill Clinton will return to North Carolina for a fourth trip this week to campaign for his wife Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.