Michelle Obama’s experience has taught her not to go there, Burns said, because going negative is a risk she cannot take. The first lady’s speeches include no mention of Republicans.
Her favorability rankings are higher than those for just about any figure in Washington, including her husband. Since early 2010, more than 67 percent of Americans have viewed her favorably, according to polling by Associated Press/GfK poll.
Those numbers shot up as Obama softened her image, showing a penchant for fashion and other “girly stuff” and making clear she would not parlay her law degree into the role of presidential adviser, said Katherine Jellison, a history professor at Ohio University who has studied first ladies.
“It’s always been safest if you play the loyal wife card,” said Jellison, who compares Michelle Obama’s role with that of Laura Bush, also a popular first lady and prolific fundraiser. “I’m not saying I approve, but people can forgive a lot if they know ‘oh she is just being a loyal spouse.’”
At DNC fundraisers, Obama lists the administration’s accomplishments, then describes the president as only she can: a man with an uncanny memory, who is not deterred by hard work, and who, at bedtime, tells his wife the stories of hurting Americans.
While the president has traveled the country, pressing Republicans to support his jobs bill, the first lady has refrained from joining in.
Campaign aides said her schedule on the trail next year will be set so she remains available for teacher conferences and other events for her daughters, and for her own initiatives, which include a book on the White House garden to be released in April.
“Political campaigning is probably not the first lady’s life’s passion,” said Jen Psaki, the former White House deputy communications director. But “there is no question that she will be very active next year.”
When Michelle Obama and her husband are on stage together, they tend to get a little flirty, and it is clear she warms up the cool-natured president. Last week, they made a rare joint appearance in Virginia to promote his American Jobs Act and announce an accomplishment of her military initiative. They gazed at one another, he called her “cute,” and to the amusement of the hundreds of military families in the audience, she joked that they were enjoying the day together.
“I never get to do anything with my husband,” the first lady said to laughter. “I haven’t seen him in three days. This is a nice date!”
The crowd cheered.
Presidential aides have described the effect. “You would always want the first lady” to be at events if possible, said Bill Burton, former White House deputy press secretary. “You knew that the president would be in a better mood and you knew that the event would go a lot better.”
Polling analyst Scott Clement contributed to this report.
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