The Michelle Obama that her old friends remember, that people knew in Chicago, she was a really incisive social critic. She knew how to drive an argument home. People liked her both in the workplace and socially because she was so frank.
Jodi KantorEvery presidential candidate highlights patriotism, but Mr. Romneys is backed by the Mormon belief that the United States was chosen by God to play a special role in history, its Constitution divinely inspired.
Jodi KantorMichelle Obama kind of has two identities. In private, she is actually often much more vehement than her husband about Republican opposition. It was very hard to get sources to put it on the record, but they would describe the way she talked about Republicans and opposition in private. And, you know, her remarks were scorching. The level of heat that she can give off in these conversations is often much greater than what Barack Obama does.
Jodi KantorI would say that Barack Obama has always been a real optimist about what can be accomplished. He believes that government can be used to create systemic, long-term, real change. And the first lady is more of a skeptic.
Jodi KantorMichelle Obama has mostly stuck to pretty anodyne topics. She's anti-childhood obesity, she's pro-veteran.
Jodi KantorPeople who face too many demands - two careers, two children - often scale back somehow. The Obamas scaled up.
Jodi KantorYou make real progress when somebody is honest enough to say something that's really uncomfortable.
Jodi KantorYou make real progress when somebody is honest enough to say something that's really uncomfortable. Of course when you're a candidate's wife and when you're first lady and the first African-American first lady to boot, that is very, very hard to do.
Jodi Kantor