First Lady Michelle Obama is appearing in her first television ad of the midterm cycle, urging Illinois voters to re-elected their embattled governor, Pat Quinn.

Quinn, who’s struggled with low popularity in the Democratic state, is in a dead heat with GOP businessman Bruce Rauner one month before for the November elections.

“For this election, Barack and I are casting our votes for our friend, Pat Quinn,” the first lady says in the straight-to-camera ad.

President Barack Obama stumped for Quinn last week, and both Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton are expected to campaign for him this week.

A new poll from NBC News/ Wall Street Journal/ Annenberg showed Sunday that 30 percent of Americans say that an endorsement by Michelle Obama would make them feel more favorable towards a candidate, versus 29 percent who said it would make them less favorable and 39 percent who said her endorsement would make no difference.

- Carrie Dann