Today, Michelle Obama sent out a message announcing the first of the ten grassroots supporters who will be chosen as special guests to attend the Inauguration:

Last week, the Presidential Inaugural Committee announced that we're bringing 10 supporters to Washington, DC for several days of Inaugural celebrations.

With the deadline coming up on Thursday, I'm pleased to announce the selection of the first grassroots supporter who will be attending the Inauguration.

Cynthia Russell from Newberry, Florida, and her guest will attend the welcome ceremony, Barack's swearing-in, the Inaugural Parade, and our Neighborhood Inaugural Ball.

Cynthia is a builder and has been feeling the impact of the recent economic crunch. She wrote:

"I'm a single woman who has been building homes for over 18 years. I've supported myself and have been able to help out my mother from time to time. Now I find myself wondering how much longer I can hold on and be able to pay my bills and keep the doors open for business. Barack gives me hope. Hope that 2009 will truly bring change to Americans who find themselves in this mess with me."

We need to select 9 more supporters like Cynthia, and I would love for you to be one of them.

Can you make a donation before midnight on Thursday, January 8th?

Supporters like you made this historic moment possible.

You gave your passion and hard work to this movement, and you brought millions of new people into the political process. Thanks to you, this campaign was open to more people than any in history, and we're counting on you to do the same for the Inauguration.

You could be there to celebrate your amazing accomplishments and give a strong start to the change you fought so hard for.

Please make a donation and help us celebrate everything you did to make this day possible.

Nothing could be better than having you there to be a part of this historic event.

Thank you for everything you've done to bring us to this moment,

Michelle

P.S. -- The opportunity to be part of this historic event is open to everyone, regardless of whether you make a donation. Participate now by telling us what this Inauguration means to you.

A message from Obama for America:

Thanks to you, President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden will take their oaths of office in just 16 days.

You helped shape history, and now you can be a part of it.

Ten supporters and their guests will be selected to come to Washington, D.C. for several days of inaugural events. You could be chosen to fly to Washington, attend the welcome ceremony, the Inaugural parade, the swearing-in, and an official Inaugural ball.

Donate $5 or more now. You could be part of the historic events you made possible.

This inauguration will be open to hundreds of thousands of people. To do that, it takes unprecedented resources.

In the past, inaugurations have been funded by lobbyists and corporations making six-figure contributions. Like our campaign, this inauguration is going to be different. But that means, once again, Barack and Joe need to ask you for your help.

Supporters like you made this possible, and with your help Barack and Joe will run their administration without the influence of big money from Washington lobbyists or special interests. Funding the Inauguration this way is another example of the change you helped bring to Washington.

It's up to you, at this crucial moment, to make the Inauguration a success and give change a strong start.

Make a donation of $5 or more now for the opportunity to join Barack and Joe at the beginning of this historic journey to change our country.

Thank you for your extraordinary efforts throughout the campaign.

Happy New Year,

Obama for America

P.S. -- You can participate without donating. We recognize this day is as important as it is historic, and we want to hear in your words what this inauguration means to you.

Today, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter announced that he had selected Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet to fill Colorado's vacant seat in the U.S. Senate. Following the Governor's announcement, President-elect Obama released the following statement commending the selection of Bennet:

Filling Ken Salazar's boots in the US Senate is a tall order. But in selecting Michael Bennet, Governor Ritter has made an excellent choice.

Michael Bennet perfectly reflects the qualities of the ruggedly independent state he has been chosen to serve. An innovator in the public and private sectors, he has shown himself willing to challenge old thinking and stale policies.

His breakthrough work at the helm of Denver's schools has reflected that commitment, and established Michael as one of the nation's leading education reformers.

He will be a breath of fresh air in Washington.

Bennet will serve the remaining two years o