With President Obama’s approval ratings waning, the White House is increasingly turning to its most popular commodity to energize crowds and bolster the president’s re-election efforts — Michelle Obama.
The first lady headlined three Democratic fundraisers in battleground Florida on Thursday, part of a concerted effort to increase her visibility in the 2012 campaign.
Though the president’s job approval numbers are as low as 40 percent, the first lady has maintained support among white voters and seniors — with whom the president is less popular — allowing her to become an equalizer in states critically important to Obama’s re-election prospects.
It’s a dramatic shift for Michelle Obama, who was a lighting rod in conservative circles during the 2008 election cycle but has since mostly avoided controversy.
“It’s easier to be liked when you’re not dealing with hot-button issues,” said Myra Gutin, a professor at Rider University and expert on first ladies. “There’s not too much to argue with about eating the right way, being active and helping military families.”
Yet, with President Obama’s $447 billion jobs plan stalled on Capitol Hill, the first lady voyaged into the political realm on Thursday, leading a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in Jacksonville.
“Even though there are some trying to stop this bill from moving forward,” she said in a not-so-veiled jab at Republicans, “my husband — your president — will not give up. Believe me, he is going to keep fighting for what are common-sense jobs proposals.”
For the most part, Michelle Obama has performed her first lady duties in much the same way as her predecessor, Laura Bush, who championed the party cause and avoided simmering political debates in favor of issues with broad public support.
But she’s a far cry from Hillary Clinton, who led former President Clinton’s push for health care reform — and ultimately became public enemy No. 1 for Republicans.
However, Republicans say the first lady will make little difference for a president up against a stagnant economy and widely energized conservative base. Even some Democratic analysts agreed with that assessment.
“Look, I love her — we all love her,” said one Democratic strategist. “But if you think she’s going to walk into a blue-collar town in Ohio and make much of a difference you’re crazy. She’s not running for president.”
By most accounts, the first lady has taken to retail politicking, increasingly joining her husband at mom-and-pop stores, small eateries and other mainstays of any presidential campaign.
According to Gutin, Michelle Obama “energizes the base and shows the more human side of the White House,” softening the image of president sometimes criticized as too detached.
“The whole goal is to marry up,” the president quipped during a recent stop in Virginia, noticeably at ease with his wife by his side. “Try to improve your gene pool.”
Vowing to play a larger role in the run-up to an election year, the first lady has headlined nearly 20 fundraisers in the last five months. In Tampa Bay Thursday, she was the main draw for a waterfront-home event, where tickets went for as much as $35,800 each.
“She gets the crowds excited,” Gutin said. “And she’s a lot more popular than her husband.”
