When she addresses the Democratic National Convention tonight, Michelle Obama will have two goals: laying out an attractive biographical sketch of her husband and his vision for America and showing the country that she is not the strident woman her critics make her out to be.
The would-be first lady will be speaking in prime time tonight, as will House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
While Pelosi’s roles as the first woman to lead the House and head of the convention are significant, all eyes will be on Obama, who has already broken the mold as a presidential candidate’s wife.
Caricatured recently on the cover of the New Yorker magazine sporting an Afro and a machine gun, Obama has been working since the general election battle began to soften her image and avoid political hot spots.
“I think she’s definitely warmed up and toned down a little bit,” said Myra Gutin, a communications professor at New Jersey’s Rider University and author of “The President’s Partner: The First Lady in the Twentieth Century.” “What was perhaps strident a few months ago is not strident any more.”
It’s been more than six months since Obama told a Milwaukee audience that thanks to husband’s candidacy, “for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country.” But the words continue to haunt Obama and her husband’s presidential bid.
John McCain’s wife, Cindy, told audiences soon after that she had always been proud of her country, and conservatives were quick to glom on to her remarks.
Obama later said she intended to refer only to the nation’s political process, but her husband’s political opponents still have their sights fixed on the 44-year-old Princeton University and Harvard Law School graduate.
“I do think Michelle Obama will be somewhat of a factor in the general election,” veteran Republican strategist Jim Ellis said. “Her ratings have been negative. Hillary Clinton changed the model of the importance of spouses in presidential campaigns.”
Democrats have high hopes for her speech. “She is very dedicated to him and the issues he champions and the issues that are critical to the Democratic party,” said Rep. John Lewis, of Georgia. “I think that will come through in her speech.”
Obama’s makeover began in June on “The View,” a morning talk show aimed at a female audience. Obama showcased her sense of style (a chic dress purchased at a discount store) and explained that she is, in fact, proud of her country and feeds her family bacon for breakfast, just like many other Americans.
Her campaign appearances this summer have also highlighted her softer side — fewer stump speeches and more intimate round-table discussions and talks about issues concerning children and families.
At the podium at Denver’s Pepsi Center tonight, Obama will showcase one of her best skills — talking about her husband and why he should be president. Democratic strategists agree she will have to sound passionate, but will have to shed the edginess of some of her past speeches.
“I think the Obama campaign is really focused on trying to get people to know him as a fully fleshed out person, the struggles he has endured in life,” veteran Democratic strategist Tad Devine said. “That is what shared values are all about and she is going to be able to offer testimony on that that no one else can.”
