The Obamas rock and rule: AFP

Quoted via AFP:

"They represent more than just the president and first lady, more than just partisan Democrats, more than just African-Americans," said Carl Sferrazza Anthony, historian to the Ohio-based National First Ladies' Library.

"It's almost like they represent a new way of how we should be thinking about ourselves, and that is the way people respond to them."

He highlighted the highly personal and emotional speech given by Michelle Obama to schoolgirls in London, in which she urged them to be true to themselves and draw from her example of what you can achieve in life.

"You see them giving people a sense of hope about themselves, and this is a radically different kind of inspiration," Anthony said. more

He highlighted Michelle Obama's authenticity and her down-to-earth nature, seen in the way she mixes chain store clothes with designer outfits. more