First lady’s popularity seen as political tool

Associated Press First lady Michelle Obama hugs Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada during an appearance in Reno. Though she says she’s not a political animal, Democrats are hoping Mrs. Obama’s kind words and popularity will help them win elections this fall.

Story Topics

• Human Interest Story
• Politics
• Michelle Obama
• Democrats
• Pinkie Thompson

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She’s not a political animal, Michelle Obama is the first to admit.

Yet with an e-mail here and a kind word there, the first lady has dipped her toes into the political waters of the midterm elections.

And Democratic candidates are hoping there’s lots more to come this fall.

With her sky-high popularity Mrs. Obama’s favorability numbers easily outdistance her husband’s plenty of Democrats would love a sprinkle of the first lady’s stardust.

Already, she’s demonstrated an ability to be helpful even without making overtly political appeals.

Earlier this summer, the first lady promoted her “Let’s Move” campaign against child obesity at a series of events in Nevada, where she stood side by side with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is in a difficult re-election campaign.

While her trip was not officially a political outing, the first lady’s visit had to be good news for Mr. Reid, whom she called “one of my favorite people in the world.”

“Presidents can’t do anything if they don’t have a good team, and Senator Reid is part of that team,” Mrs. Obama said at one event.

Look no further than Pinkie Thompson, a Democratic activist who heard Mrs. Obama speak at a women’s forum in Reno, for a testimonial about what the first lady can do with a crowd.

“Her presence filled the room for me, and I just thought she was a remarkable person in person,” Miss Thompson says. “She’s really very in-the-moment, very present with those around her, and that’s a powerful ability. Everybody can’t do that.”

The question for the fall is how much the first lady will involve herself in overt politicking vs. seizing opportunities like her Nevada visit, in which she bolstered a candidate while promoting her own causes. She may be most effective when her own issues and politics naturally converge.

The first lady has competing factors to weigh: After taking August off, she’ll need to get her two daughters settled in school again. She’s also hit her stride in promoting the “Let’s Move” campaign and doesn’t want to lose momentum. Along the way, she’s cultivated an apolitical image that resonates with Americans and fits her own inclinations.

“Politics is important or else I wouldn’t be supporting my husband,” Mrs. Obama told reporters earlier this year, “but it’s not who I am and it’s never been a goal of mine. And being in it hasn’t changed that.”

On the other hand, the first lady’s popularity is a huge asset for Democrats, and she could attract big dollars for candidates if she makes fundraising appeals. Beyond that, in whatever forum she chooses to speak, she can be a powerful spokeswoman for Democrats.

Less than 100 days out from Election Day, the White House still is deciding Mrs. Obama’s place in the fall political picture.

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