First ladies participate in campaign
From Martha Washington to Michelle Obama, the unofficial title of first lady can come with much admiration and hard work. A first lady normally assumes unofficial duties such as offering advice to the president, handling domestic issues and becoming a leader in fashion.
Although the husbands of the two potential first ladies in the upcoming election are at different ends of the political spectrum, the women’s political views are not as contrasting as that of their husbands’.
According to a recent poll conducted by ABC News, the general public view of Michelle Obama and Ann Romney is that they are more favorable than that of their husbands, by more than 12 percent and nine percent, respectively. ABC News attributed the results of this study to the womens’ more bipartisan tendencies.
Both ladies stress the importance of family in speeches and through involvement in numerous organizations.
While both women are educated, they were educated in different settings: Ann Romney graduated from Brigham Young University, whereas Michelle Obama has a degree from Harvard Law School.
Ann Romney and Michelle Obama both have expressed their disinterest in meddling much in their husbands’ politics.
Michelle Obama has been known for her stunning eye for fashion, likened to that of Jackie Kennedy. She dons ensembles created by designers such as Jason Wu, Narciso Rodriguez, Maria Pinto and Calvin Klein, as well as pieces from more affordable stores such as White House/Black Market and J. Crew.
Michelle Obama is not, however, merely a fashion enthusiast. She has been recognized as an important asset to her husband’s political career because of the offices she has held and the organizations of which she has been a part. She also has been admired as a dedicated mother to her two daughters, Malia and Sasha, promoter of healthier lifestyles across the nation and a supporter of the families of U.S. troops.
The current first lady has contributed to YouthBuild AmeriCorps, which endorses energy-efficient home building.
In 1993, as founding executive director, she headed Public Allies Chicago, which encourages youth to join nonprofit organizations.
Michelle Obama initiated several volunteer programs while acting as the associate dean of students at the University of Chicago.
She has planted a vegetable garden at the White House with fifth graders, the first since Eleanor Roosevelt, with the intent of promoting inexpensive means of producing healthy foods.
Michelle Obama also has paid frequent visits to military bases.
Ann Romney has spent much of her time since 1970 as a stay-at-home mother, raising her and her husband’s five sons Tagg, Matt, Josh, Ben and Craig.
She has also served as director of Best Friends, a group which serves inner-city girls in Boston. Additionally, she was co-chair and a member of the Faith and Action Committee as well as a member of the Executive Committee and Community Impact Committee for the United Way, an organization working to promote a higher standard of living through wellness, income stability and education.
Ann Romney also has worked as a volunteer instructor at the Mother Caroline Academy, a multicultural middle school.
She is a leader in using equine therapy to treat multiple sclerosis and an advocate of research for MS. She was diagnosed with the disease in 1998.
Despite her illness, Ann Romney has trained for and participated in dressage competition as recently as 2006. Dressage competitions are also referred to as horse ballet and are the most competitive equestrian sport. She still continues to ride both therapeutically and as a hobby.
In an interview with ABC News, Ann Romney said, “I was really surprised. As soon as I got on [the horse], I completely forgot I was even sick or tired or that fatigue feeling. I just was so filled with joy, that it just was like a magic pill for me.”
Many journalists suggest that Michelle Obama and Ann Romney have done more for their husbands’ presidential campaigns than any other potential first ladies.
According to veteran television journalist Tom Brokaw, Michelle Obama and Ann Romney are “the two most effective campaigners in both campaigns.”
