Mrs. Obama’s trips help husband’s re-election try

DALLAS (AP) - In just the past few days, Michelle Obama has danced with cheering school kids, chatted with troops and swapped ideas with busy parents. She’s engaged in a friendly cooking competition with stars from Bravo’s “Top Chef.”

She’s on a three-day national tour to promote the second anniversary of her campaign against childhood obesity. The images have been disarming, intriguing and non-political. That’s just the type of thing her husband’s re-election campaign can’t get enough of.

Five years to the day after then-Sen. Barack Obama announced he was running for president, Mrs. Obama’s travels offer fresh evidence of how powerful a political asset a first lady can be.

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