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| First ladies club: how Michelle Obama became Hillary Clinton's unlikely ally | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| In 2010, Michelle Obama attended a state department event recognizing women around the world. When it was the first lady’s turn to speak, she began by thanking the secretary of state, Hillary Clinton. | In 2010, Michelle Obama attended a state department event recognizing women around the world. When it was the first lady’s turn to speak, she began by thanking the secretary of state, Hillary Clinton. |
| “My dear friend, Senator – I mean Secretary Clinton,” Obama said, correcting herself. She paused, then continued: “I almost said President Clinton.” | “My dear friend, Senator – I mean Secretary Clinton,” Obama said, correcting herself. She paused, then continued: “I almost said President Clinton.” |
| The audience burst into laughter and applause. Clinton, too, tossed her head back and gave a hearty laugh. | The audience burst into laughter and applause. Clinton, too, tossed her head back and gave a hearty laugh. |
| Obama is not joking now as she travels the country on a deeply personal mission to help elect her East Wing predecessor, a one-time adversary who she now calls “my girl”. In a storyline that would have been unimaginable eight years ago, Obama has thrown herself into the role of Clinton’s champion and chief defender against Donald Trump, the Republican nominee. | Obama is not joking now as she travels the country on a deeply personal mission to help elect her East Wing predecessor, a one-time adversary who she now calls “my girl”. In a storyline that would have been unimaginable eight years ago, Obama has thrown herself into the role of Clinton’s champion and chief defender against Donald Trump, the Republican nominee. |
| The rise of Trump has entwined the first ladies’ fates. Barack Obama’s legislative accomplishments – his legacy – rests crucially on a Clinton victory. The alternative would be painful for the first family; Trump’s political beginnings are rooted in an effort to deny the legitimacy of Obama’s presidency. | The rise of Trump has entwined the first ladies’ fates. Barack Obama’s legislative accomplishments – his legacy – rests crucially on a Clinton victory. The alternative would be painful for the first family; Trump’s political beginnings are rooted in an effort to deny the legitimacy of Obama’s presidency. |
| For the last several weeks, Clinton’s campaign has deployed Michelle Obama to competitive states, where she has delivered versions of the compelling speech she gave at the Democratic national convention in July. Clinton and her allies have weaponized a line from that speech – “when they go low, we go high” – into a blistering critique of Trump and the Republicans who have not disavowed him. | For the last several weeks, Clinton’s campaign has deployed Michelle Obama to competitive states, where she has delivered versions of the compelling speech she gave at the Democratic national convention in July. Clinton and her allies have weaponized a line from that speech – “when they go low, we go high” – into a blistering critique of Trump and the Republicans who have not disavowed him. |
| Clinton’s campaign views Obama as a singular force on the trail. Her distance from politics and carefully cultivated everywoman appeal, lends a note of authenticity and credibility to a candidate who is historically unpopular – although not quite as unpopular as her opponent – and ruthlessly stage-managed. | Clinton’s campaign views Obama as a singular force on the trail. Her distance from politics and carefully cultivated everywoman appeal, lends a note of authenticity and credibility to a candidate who is historically unpopular – although not quite as unpopular as her opponent – and ruthlessly stage-managed. |
| In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Thursday, 11,000 people filled a gymnasium to witness the two share a stage. | In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Thursday, 11,000 people filled a gymnasium to witness the two share a stage. |
| Clinton spoke first, and delivered an effusive speech in praise of “our most amazing first lady”. | Clinton spoke first, and delivered an effusive speech in praise of “our most amazing first lady”. |
| The Democratic nominee hailed Obama’s eloquence and the grace with which she confronted the challenges of being the first African American first lady. She applauded Obama’s accomplishments in combatting childhood obesity and promised to tend to the vegetable garden Obama has planted during her years in the White House. She even made mention of Obama’s appearance on Carpool Karaoke and called it a “privilege” to watch the first couple dance, eliciting a little groove from Obama. | The Democratic nominee hailed Obama’s eloquence and the grace with which she confronted the challenges of being the first African American first lady. She applauded Obama’s accomplishments in combatting childhood obesity and promised to tend to the vegetable garden Obama has planted during her years in the White House. She even made mention of Obama’s appearance on Carpool Karaoke and called it a “privilege” to watch the first couple dance, eliciting a little groove from Obama. |
| The crowd thrilled to their playful rapport. “You go, girls,” a woman shouted above the wild applause. | The crowd thrilled to their playful rapport. “You go, girls,” a woman shouted above the wild applause. |
| East Wing sisterhood | East Wing sisterhood |
| The contrast between Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama is sharp. But they will for ever have in common the shared experience of living two terms as America’s first lady. As both Clinton and Obama have expressed publicly, the role of first lady is complicated, constrained by the weight of social and cultural traditions and devoid of any real power. | The contrast between Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama is sharp. But they will for ever have in common the shared experience of living two terms as America’s first lady. As both Clinton and Obama have expressed publicly, the role of first lady is complicated, constrained by the weight of social and cultural traditions and devoid of any real power. |
| “I’m going to state the obvious,” Clinton said of the role. “It’s not easy. You’ve got so many people counting on you, you’ve got the eyes of the world on you. | “I’m going to state the obvious,” Clinton said of the role. “It’s not easy. You’ve got so many people counting on you, you’ve got the eyes of the world on you. |
| “And let’s be real, as our nation’s first African American first lady, she’s faced pressures I never did, and she’s handled them with pure grace.” | “And let’s be real, as our nation’s first African American first lady, she’s faced pressures I never did, and she’s handled them with pure grace.” |
| The women, both Ivy-League educated lawyers, charted very different paths after reaching the White House. As the joke goes, one can’t wait to return to the White House while the other can’t wait to leave. | The women, both Ivy-League educated lawyers, charted very different paths after reaching the White House. As the joke goes, one can’t wait to return to the White House while the other can’t wait to leave. |
| Clinton followed the path of her role model, Eleanor Roosevelt. She pushed the boundaries of tradition – and shocked some in her husband’s administration – when she set up her desk in the West Wing, as opposed to the East Wing where first ladies traditionally worked. She delved into policy and led a failed effort to pass universal healthcare. | Clinton followed the path of her role model, Eleanor Roosevelt. She pushed the boundaries of tradition – and shocked some in her husband’s administration – when she set up her desk in the West Wing, as opposed to the East Wing where first ladies traditionally worked. She delved into policy and led a failed effort to pass universal healthcare. |
| By contrast, Obama has all but avoided policy battles. She has focused on combatting childhood obesity, improving girls’ access to education around the world and, especially lately, fighting racial and economic inequality. | By contrast, Obama has all but avoided policy battles. She has focused on combatting childhood obesity, improving girls’ access to education around the world and, especially lately, fighting racial and economic inequality. |
| Obama has animated the role by using social media and public appearances to reach new audiences. America has seen the first lady hula hoop on the White House lawn, rap about college and shop with Ellen Degeneres. She is also known the world over for her impeccable and symbolic sartorial decisions. (She wore a Versace dress made of rose gold chain mail to the Obamas’ final state dinner with the Italian prime minister last week.) | Obama has animated the role by using social media and public appearances to reach new audiences. America has seen the first lady hula hoop on the White House lawn, rap about college and shop with Ellen Degeneres. She is also known the world over for her impeccable and symbolic sartorial decisions. (She wore a Versace dress made of rose gold chain mail to the Obamas’ final state dinner with the Italian prime minister last week.) |
| As the Obamas prepare to leave the White House, many Democrats are holding out the unlikely hope that Michelle will overcome her distaste for politics and run for office. | As the Obamas prepare to leave the White House, many Democrats are holding out the unlikely hope that Michelle will overcome her distaste for politics and run for office. |
| Asked at a January town hall if his wife might consider running for president, Obama replied: “There are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes and Michelle is not running for president.” | Asked at a January town hall if his wife might consider running for president, Obama replied: “There are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes and Michelle is not running for president.” |
| Campaign trail rivals turned allies | Campaign trail rivals turned allies |
| Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama began as adversaries in 2008, pitted against one another in an grueling and at turns acrimonious primary that left deep political wounds on the Democratic party. Obama resented the fact that Clinton had attacked her husband as inexperienced and unprepared, and Clinton was stung by criticism of stirring racial tensions. | Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama began as adversaries in 2008, pitted against one another in an grueling and at turns acrimonious primary that left deep political wounds on the Democratic party. Obama resented the fact that Clinton had attacked her husband as inexperienced and unprepared, and Clinton was stung by criticism of stirring racial tensions. |
| Obama extended an olive branch to Clinton during her 2008 speech at the Democratic national convention, when, quoting from Clinton’s concession speech, she praised “people like Hillary Clinton, who put those 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, so that our daughters – and our sons – can dream a little bigger and aim a little higher”. | Obama extended an olive branch to Clinton during her 2008 speech at the Democratic national convention, when, quoting from Clinton’s concession speech, she praised “people like Hillary Clinton, who put those 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, so that our daughters – and our sons – can dream a little bigger and aim a little higher”. |
| Their bitterness softened when Clinton accepted the job as secretary of state but the nature of their relationship has remained a source of speculation. | Their bitterness softened when Clinton accepted the job as secretary of state but the nature of their relationship has remained a source of speculation. |
| During one of this year’s presidential debates, Trump tried to undercut their relationship, recalling an oblique comment Obama made during the 2008 primary about keeping one’s house in order, which some had interpreted as a swipe at the Clintons’ marital tribulations. In context, Obama was explaining the importance of putting family first despite the rigors of a contested primary campaign. | During one of this year’s presidential debates, Trump tried to undercut their relationship, recalling an oblique comment Obama made during the 2008 primary about keeping one’s house in order, which some had interpreted as a swipe at the Clintons’ marital tribulations. In context, Obama was explaining the importance of putting family first despite the rigors of a contested primary campaign. |
| But it was a clear sign that Obama’s wide appeal and increasing presence on the trail was a threat to Trump’s struggling campaign. | But it was a clear sign that Obama’s wide appeal and increasing presence on the trail was a threat to Trump’s struggling campaign. |
| Last week, the first lady delivered a devastating riposte to Trump, in response to the release of a 2005 tape that showed the Republican nominee boasting that his fame enabled him to grab and kiss women without their consent. | Last week, the first lady delivered a devastating riposte to Trump, in response to the release of a 2005 tape that showed the Republican nominee boasting that his fame enabled him to grab and kiss women without their consent. |
| “I can’t believe I’m saying that – a candidate for President of the United States has bragged about sexually assaulting women,” Obama said at an event in New Hampshire, her voice trembling and her hand placed over heart. “I have to tell you that I can’t stop thinking about this – it has shaken me to my core in a way that I couldn’t have predicted.” | “I can’t believe I’m saying that – a candidate for President of the United States has bragged about sexually assaulting women,” Obama said at an event in New Hampshire, her voice trembling and her hand placed over heart. “I have to tell you that I can’t stop thinking about this – it has shaken me to my core in a way that I couldn’t have predicted.” |
| On the trail, Obama doesn’t only counter Trump, whose name she has not uttered once. She also makes what many political observers argue is the most effective and clear case for Clinton, offering herself as a character witness. | On the trail, Obama doesn’t only counter Trump, whose name she has not uttered once. She also makes what many political observers argue is the most effective and clear case for Clinton, offering herself as a character witness. |
| In Winston-Salem on Thursday, any remnants of an old rivalry was overshadowed by their public show of mutual respect and admiration. | In Winston-Salem on Thursday, any remnants of an old rivalry was overshadowed by their public show of mutual respect and admiration. |
| “It takes a level of generosity of spirit to do what Hillary has done in her career and in her life for our family, for this nation,” Obama said. | “It takes a level of generosity of spirit to do what Hillary has done in her career and in her life for our family, for this nation,” Obama said. |
| “If people wonder, yes, Hillary Clinton is my friend.” | “If people wonder, yes, Hillary Clinton is my friend.” |