LAS VEGAS, N.M. — Michelle Obama worked for about a half-hour Monday to give Las Vegans her own perspective on her husband and to bring Barack Obama's presidential campaign to the doorstep of voters in this northeastern New Mexico community.

She talked about being married to the Democratic nominee, about his dedication to the campaign, about his hope for change a week from now.

And then she got right down to the reason she was there: voting — early voting in particular.

"I told Barack: 'You've gotten us 85 percent of the way there.' But the other 15 percent is on us. It is on us. If we want Barack Obama to be the next president of the United States, we need to vote for Barack Obama," she told the crowd of about 3,200 who lined the city's Old Town Plaza Park.

"If our voters get out there and vote early, it means you get out there and take no risk. Anything can happen on Election Day," she said. "But more importantly, if you vote early it means you can use Election Day to take others to the polls ... whether you drive them, you nag them," she said. "Nagging is good," she joked. "It's worked for me on several occasions."

After she spoke, volunteers led supporters who hadn't voted to the closest early voting site. One man held a sign above his head that said, "Follow me to early voting."

That approach apparently worked. The elections chief for the San Miguel County Clerk's Office, Melanie Rivera, said about 300 people cast early ballots Tuesday — an increase over the 50 to 100 people who had been voting each day since early voting started. About 100 voters showed up right after the Obama event, she said.

With Obama ahead in New Mexico by 8 percentage points in the average of recent polls, and after he drew a crowd of 45,000 at The University of New Mexico in Albuquerque on Saturday night, it might seem the Obamas or their campaign surrogates don't need to keep visiting this state.

But University of New Mexico political science professor Christine Sierra said the Democrats aren't taking anything for granted. "Obviously the crowd numbers at Saturday's rally really suggest Obama is going to beat McCain handily," she said, "but you cannot trust crowd numbers. The ultimate numbers that count are the votes cast."

In particular, she said, the campaign wants to shore up support among Hispanic voters. "The fact she's appearing at another classic Northern New Mexico town tells me they are really targeting Hispanic voters still."

Sen. Obama has made six trips to the state, including a stop last month in Española. He also visited Santa Fe earlier in the campaign.

The push to visit various parts of the state to attract voters seems to be successful.

Santa Fe resident Wabanang Kuczek on Saturday saw Obama speak and got to shake his hand at UNM. Still, she waited in Las Vegas for another glimpse of someone who might soon occupy the White House — and was the first in line at the plaza, arriving at 5:30 a.m. for the 12:30 p.m. event.

If Obama wins, "the country will never be the same in terms of people's frames of mind. It will never be the same as far as people's thoughts regarding race," said Kuczek, a physician's assistant who works in emergency medicine.

Supporters formed a line that snaked around the town square. Many chanted "Sí se puede" and listened to recorded music by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alabama and Bruce Springsteen in the crisp fall air under the dropping yellow leaves of the plaza trees.

To pass the time in line, artist Elise Renault made pairs of earrings with a small, laminated drawing of Obama on them. She said she likes the Obamas' health care plan, which the campaign has said would mean health care coverage for all Americans.

But she stood in line for another reason, too. "I've never felt excited about voting for a president in my life, ever," said Renault, who is 51 and has voted in every election since she became eligible. "We need someone interested in doing something that's different."

Theresa Estrada, a social work intern, said she wanted to see Michelle Obama because she sees her as a figure to be learned from, especially for young mothers. "Just seeing her interact with her young children, that's a role model," Estrada said.

"I like that she's a very intelligent, sophisticated woman that shows a lot of class. That's important for a first lady, and she has everything that a first lady needs — class, intelligence, integrity — and I really admire that. She's just an awesome person."

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog, Green Chile Chatter, at www.santafenewmexican.com.