Michelle Obama Campaigning for Hillary Clinton in Fairfax Friday

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — First Lady Michelle Obama will be campaigning Friday afternoon in Fairfax for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Obama gave one of the most impassioned pitches for Clinton's candidacy in a prime-time speech at the Democratic National Convention earlier this summer.

She arrives in Virginia just as a new statewide poll shows the race tightening in a key swing state that many pundits had written off as "solid D" after Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, was added to the ticket as Clinton's running mate.

Obama will likely hit some of the same themes in her DNC speech, particularly alluding to the controversial comments from Republican candidate Donald Trump. "With every word we utter, with every action we take, we know our kids are watching us," she told the DNC crowd in July. "This election, and every election, is about who will have the power to shape our children for the next four or eight years of their lives."

Speaking to a crowd that will likely include college students at George Mason University, Obama will also stress the importance of registering to vote. Virginia voters have until Oct. 17, but students can face challenges knowing when and where to register, particularly if they are attending school out-of-state.

If you're going to the Michelle Obama event Friday, it will be at the Johnson Center at George Mason University, 4400 University Dr. Doors open at 1 p.m. Attendees can RSVP at the campaign website, but admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Find information about parking at GMU. Fairfax City is warning residents and motorists to expect delays around the campus Friday afternoon.

The latest poll of Virginia voters, released Thursday from the University of Mary Washington, noted that Clinton's lead in the state was down to 3 points.

It's evidence that Virginia is still an important swing state, according to UMW political professor Stephen Farnsworth. "This survey demonstrates that the Trump campaign is wise to focus its resources on Virginia, and that the Clinton campaign is making a mistake by directing its attention elsewhere," he said.

Photo by Gage Skidmore