Profile: Michelle Obama: Hugger-in-chief grabs the glory: London Times

Quoted via London Times:

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While Barack Obama’s hugger-in-chief won plaudits here, coverage of her London visit sent her stock soaring in the United States and her popularity rating has shot past that of Oprah Winfrey, the television presenter and African-American role model. “The TV coverage of the last two days has dialled her up dramatically to another level,” reported Tina Brown, editor of The Daily Beast blog site.

At a moment when her husband’s halo is losing some of its shine, Michelle’s boost to the Obama brand could not be more timely. Her disarming blend of glamour and authenticity – using words such as “doggone” and “Jeez” – is integral to her continuing project of softening the president’s professorial image. Her photograph on last month’s issue of Vogue magazine restored further lustre. more