Story highlights Michelle Obama is also expected to campaign in Arizona, the campaign announced

Arizona has not voted for a Democrat presidential nominee since Bill Clinton in 1996.

(CNN) Hillary Clinton's campaign, hoping to force Donald Trump to spend time and resources in a reliably red state, is making a play for Arizona.

The campaign announced Monday morning that first lady Michelle Obama, who's been a forceful Clinton surrogate, is expected to go to Arizona on Thursday. The Clinton campaign is also expanding its television ad buy and direct mail starting this week.

"This is a state that would really foreclose a way for Donald Trump to win the White House," Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook told reporters on a conference call Monday.

Mook said that Trump's rhetoric has made it possible for the campaign to expand the map and said the campaign would invest $2 million in television ads and direct mail in Arizona.

Bernie Sanders, a Clinton surrogate who aides feel can boost turnout with young people, will also headline two campaign rallies in Flagstaff and Tucson, Arizona, on Tuesday and Chelsea Clinton will headline a rally in Tempe at Arizona State University on Wednesday.