The Washington Post quotes Dr. Katherine Jellison, Professor and Chair of History, in a pre-election article on “Michelle Obama out in full force for ‘Barack’s last campaign.’”
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Plain-spoken and casual, Michelle Obama took the stage of a high school gymnasium here to rally Democratic voters. “I’m thrilled to be here,” she said, throwing up her hands and looking like she meant it.
There were few glimpses of Obama as the “reluctant” political spouse, who acknowledged in 2007 that she had doubts about the career path her husband had chosen. In his first national campaign, she was frustrated by the way her missteps on the campaign trail were magnified and how forthright comments from a political spouse could quickly turn into a liability.
In the run-up to Election Day, the first lady has been forced to bow again to the grind of campaigning. And she seems better at it, notes Katherine Jellison, a history professor at Ohio University who has studied first ladies. “She’s just more experienced and seems more comfortable in this role with each passing year,” Jellison said.
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