(CNN) - On the day that her husband keynotes a major fundraiser for House Democrats, first lady Michelle Obama is also flexing her fundraising muscles.
While President Barack Obama travels to their hometown of Chicago to keynote Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee events, the first lady headed to Boston to help bring in the bucks for the party's Senate candidate in next month's special election in Massachusetts. From Boston, Michelle Obama moved on to New York City, headlining two events for the Democratic National Committee.
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The first lady is a major draw on the campaign trail. And as the 2014 midterm election cycle heats up, she may reprise the role she played in the 2010 midterms and in both of her husband's presidential campaigns.
"The president nicknamed the first lady 'the Closer' during the 2008 campaign because after crowds heard his vision for the country she'd close with an emotional appeal that brought their support over the finish line," says Democratic strategist Ben LaBolt, who served as national press secretary for the 2012 Obama re-election campaign.
"The same could be said of her ability to fundraise. There has always been a huge demand - from candidates, donors and activists - for the first lady to appear at their events," adds LaBolt, who also worked on Obama's 2008 campaign and in the Obama White House.
In Boston, the first lady was the main attraction for a fundraiser for Rep. Ed Markey, the Democratic nominee in next month's special election to fill the final year and a half of the term of longtime Democratic Sen. John Kerry, who stepped down earlier this year to become U.S. secretary of state. The event brought in some $600,000 for Markey, according to campaign and Democratic Party officials.
"My husband can't do it alone," Obama said, according to a pool report of the fundraiser. "He absolutely needs folks like Ed Markey in the Senate to make it happen."
"Keep writing those checks. And if you haven't maxed out, max out!" asked Obama, who also added "Remember all of those times when I've asked you to have my husband's back. This is one of those back-having times, right now."
Freshman Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts was also at the event, and praised Obama as she introduced the first lady.
"I love Michelle Obama. She's a real fighter. Just take a look at those biceps," Warren said to laughter.
(The first lady also visited victims of April's marathon bombing while in Boston)
In New York City, the first lady was scheduled to headline a high dollar private reception for the DNC. Next stop for Obama was a DNC lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender event. Collins is the NBA player who recently announced he was gay.
While the first lady can light up a crowd, some Republicans question how effective she or any other big name Democrat can be in a cycle that may favor the GOP.
"There's no doubt Michelle Obama will play a helpful role in raising money for the Democrats this cycle, but her presence on the campaign trail will have no bearing on the election results come November 2014," says Republican strategist Brian Walsh, who served as communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee in the 2010 and 2012 cycles.