Craig Robinson

When Barack Obama was thinking about running for president in 2006, he knew that Michelle and her mother, Marian, had reservations about his safety, the emotional toll of campaigning and what it would do to the Obamas' two young daughters, Malia and Sasha. Obama asked Robinson to talk to his sister and mother about following your dreams, and Robinson helped convince both of them that running for president was the right decision.

During the campaign, Robinson spent a lot of time traveling around the country touting his brother-in-law's personal narrative and policies. He said he was cynical about the political process until he met Obama.

Though he is unlikely to play an official role in an Obama administration, Robinson is likely to be a frequent guest at the White House and will certainly be a source of moral support over the next four years for his sister, mother, brother-in-law and nieces.

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