Michelle Obama on the campaign trail? – TheHill.com
Michelle Obama on the campaign trail?
By Sean J. Miller – 12/20/09 05:03 PM ET
House Democrats facing tough reelection battles would undoubtedly jump at the chance of hosting a high-profile visit from first lady Michelle Obama.
But when and where – or even if – the first lady will campaign in 2010 remains a mystery. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), who helms the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, was adamant when asked earlier this week about Obama’s 2010 schedule. “That’s a decision for the White House,” Van Hollen said. “We’re confident that the president will be out.”
The White House, however, isn’t offering any clues. An official in the first lady’s office said Obama planned to spend the next year “advanc[ing] issues of importance to her” but declined to speculate on her schedule. Asked if members of Congress were approaching her with requests to appear, White House spokeswoman Katie McCormick Lelyveld would say only that the first lady gets “thousands of invitations” to public events.
Van Hollen said his members accepted that the first lady wouldn’t be politically active in her first year. “I think our members have understood that, at least in this first year, the first lady has been very focused on other issues,” he said.
Observers say expectations will rise as another election approaches. “The question will be what happens for the midterms,” said Anita McBride, who was first lady Laura Bush’s chief of staff during her husband’s second term. “I think [Michelle Obama's] obviously comfortably doing the campaigning. She did plenty of it for her husband.”
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