16°c Overcast
21°c Cloudy with showers
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Democrats kick off convention as first lady rallies the troops
DEMOCRATS have kicked off their national convention in North Carolina, desperate to convince Americans that U.S. President Barack Obama deserves a second term -- and to vilify the economic proposals of Mitt Romney, his Republican rival for the White House.
First lady Michelle Obama was set to take centre stage on Tuesday night as what one campaign official described as a "character witness" for her husband. She provided clues to the themes of her address in a radio interview in Charlotte, N.C., earlier in the day.
"The truth is that he has grown so much, but in terms of his core character and value, that has not been changed at all," she said.
"I am going to remind people about the values that drive my husband to do what he has done and what he is going to do for the next four years."
The president, meantime, said he'd be at the White House, getting "all misty" while watching her speech with the couple's two girls.
"Whatever I say here today, it's going to be at best a distant second to the speech you will hear tonight from the star of the Obama family," he said as he campaigned in Virginia.
"This is just like a relay, and you start off with the fastest person."
The three-day event in Charlotte, N.C., includes an address Wednesday by former president Bill Clinton, and will culminate Thursday with the president officially accepting the party's nomination at a downtown football field.
For Michelle Obama, her appearance represents a personal triumph of sorts. The last time she spoke at the party's convention, she was under fire, assailed by conservatives as unpatriotic for remarks she'd made months earlier about her husband's political fortunes.
"For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country, and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change," she said during primary season in comments that set off a right-wing firestorm.
It's been a transformative uphill climb ever since, said Myra Gutin, a first lady expert and communications professor at Rider University in New Jersey.
Indeed, after an almost entirely gaffe-free four years in the White House, the Chicago-born lawyer's popularity now far surpasses that of her husband. When Gallup last pitted the couple against one another in May, Michelle Obama had a 66 per cent approval rating while her husband was at 52 per cent.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 5, 2012 A9
More World
- Back to Top
- Return to World
More World
(1 of 30 articles for today)
Bill Clinton, other celebrities join thousands at Vienna AIDS charity ball
6:20 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular World
- French soldier stabbed in throat outside Paris; unclear yet if any link to UK attack
- Anti-Muslim activity on the rise in UK after soldier killed in London
- Driver horrified by scene in rearview mirror after load hits I-5 bridge, road falls into river
- Female suicide bomber injures 18 in Russian region of Dagestan
- Official: Clash that killed 14 Filipino marines and militants part of new US-backed offensive
- Distraught mom who carried daughter to safety becomes the face of the storm
- Bridge collapse survivor who fell in river: 'You hold on as tight as you can'
- Gay teen charged for having younger girlfriend
- Truck's load strikes girder despite permits
- A controversial victory lap for Jerry Lewis at the Cannes Film Festival
- Bridge collapse survivor who fell in river: 'You hold on as tight as you can'
- Massive tornado roars through Oklahoma City suburb, killing at least 51
- Brave woman tried to calm London attackers and reasoned with them before police came
- Search for survivors of Oklahoma tornado nearly complete, as homeowners confront devastation
- Man shot to death in Fla. while being questioned in Boston Marathon bombing investigation
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Muslim hard-liners ID suspect seen in video after British soldier killed in London
- Polish man gets quick face transplant in what doctors say was life-saving decision
- Driver horrified by scene in rearview mirror after load hits I-5 bridge, road falls into river
- Rare comic book featuring debut of Superman found insulating abandoned house in Minnesota
- Amanda Berry, 1 of 3 women freed after held captive in Ohio home, arrives at sister's home
- Bridge collapse survivor who fell in river: 'You hold on as tight as you can'
- Massive tornado roars through Oklahoma City suburb, killing at least 51
- Friendship with bomb suspect, complex chain of events leads to 3 being charged
- Police vow to solve shooting that wounded 19 people during Mother's Day parade in New Orleans
- Missing Pa. woman, last seen dropping off kids for school in 2002, surfaces in Fla.
- Cleveland police: Ohio captive suffered 5 miscarriages after being beaten and starved
- Brave woman tried to calm London attackers and reasoned with them before police came
- Jodi Arias convicted of first-degree murder, says she prefers death penalty
- Neighbours: Man in custody comforted missing girl's mom, helped search for missing US women
- Official: Clash that killed 14 Filipino marines and militants part of new US-backed offensive
- Mistrial in penalty phase of Arias case sets up whole new proceeding to decide punishment
- Bridge collapse survivor who fell in river: 'You hold on as tight as you can'
- Rare comic book featuring debut of Superman found insulating abandoned house in Minnesota
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Driver horrified by scene in rearview mirror after load hits I-5 bridge, road falls into river
- Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and founding member of rock group The Doors, dies at 74 from cancer
- Argentina's 'dirty war' dictator dies
- Massive tornado roars through Oklahoma City suburb, killing at least 51
- Official: Clash that killed 14 Filipino marines and militants part of new US-backed offensive
- Officials announce 1 winning ticket sold in Fla. on record Powerball jackpot topping $590M
- Umbrella-gate stirs outrage
- Bridge collapse survivor who fell in river: 'You hold on as tight as you can'
- Rare comic book featuring debut of Superman found insulating abandoned house in Minnesota
- 'Coronation Street' actor William Roache charged in UK over alleged rapes in 1967
- Coroner: 5-year-old boy shoots 2-year-old sister in US with rifle he got as a gift
- Hitler ate well, his food taster recalls
- Black bear wanders into LA-area suburbia, chases swimmers from pool, strands kids in class
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Female guards, rapidly growing in numbers, at heart of U.S. prison scandal
- Driver horrified by scene in rearview mirror after load hits I-5 bridge, road falls into river
- US tourists swim for nearly 14 hours after boat sinks near St. Lucia
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.