Jill Biden to join M. Obama at rally today

Jill Biden, wife of Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden, will join Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, for a voter registration rally at the University of Virginia today.

Obama and Biden will be the headliners of a Virginia Women for Obama voter registration rally. Obama’s campaign has emphasized new voter registrations of young people and black residents across Virg-inia.

Joining Obama and Biden will be Lilly Led-better, an Alab-ama woman whose fight for equal pay was stymied by the U.S. Supreme Court. Ledbetter’s efforts inspired the introduction of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which would make it easier for women and others alleging decimation to sue employers for wages equal to those of their co-workers.

Barack Obama supported the Ledbetter bill. GOP nominee John McCain has said that the bill is not needed.

Prior to the UVa rally today, Michelle Obama and Ledbetter will host an economic roundtable forum in Richmond. Obama began her series of economic forums during the primary race to discuss the economy’s impact on women and families. Along with her husband, Obama has advocated for a $1,000 tax credit for working families, equal pay for women workers and a $4,000 college tax credit in exchange for community service, according to the Obama campaign.

Also speaking at today’s rally will be Democrat Tom Perriello, a national security consultant and founder of faith-based initiatives from Ivy, who is running against U.S. Rep. Virgil H. Goode, a Republican who has represented Virginia’s 5th Congressional District — which includes Charlottesville — since 1997.

Doors open for the forum at 3 p.m. and the event will start at 4:50 p.m. It will be held at Newcomb Hall Plaza at 180 McCormick Road. The event is free and open to the public.