Michelle Obama (1964-) was an American first lady and the wife of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States. An Ivy League graduate, she built a successful career, first as a lawyer, and then in the private sector, which she maintained throughout her husband's early political career. Concerned about the effect the campaign would have on their young daugthers, Michelle was initially reluctant to support the idea of her husband's run for the presidency. Despite her initial misgivings, she proved to be an effective surrogate for him on the campaign trail. After her husband's election, she chose a number of causes to support; advocating for support for military families and encouraging healthy eating to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity. As a young mother, a fashion icon and the first African-American first lady, Michelle Obama became a role model to many Americans.
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In his 2008 book, The Audacity of Hope, Barack Obama commented on Michelle Obama's political skills, stating, "If I ever had to run against her for public office, I know that she would beat me without much difficulty.
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