NBC's Mitchell Gushes Over Michelle Obama As 'Not So Secret Political Weapon'
On Wednesday's NBC Nightly News, correspondent Andrea Mitchell filed a report in which she gushed over First Lady Michelle Obama's campaign skills, dubbing her as President Obama's "not so secret political weapon."
Mitchell recounted the First Lady's campaign appearance from earlier in the day:
On the White House jobs tour today, Michelle Obama is on message, announcing 25,000 private sector jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next two years. As the campaign gains speed, the First Lady is gearing up.
Soon came of clip of the Daily Beast's Tina Brown chiming in:
Michelle Obama really brings a warmth, a personal connection, a kind of strong womanly human connection that, you know, Obama, her husband, just cannot really seem to get.
After asserting that the First Lady had been reluctant to campaign in 2008, the NBC correspondent added:
That was then. Now she's everywhere, painting houses for military families, fighting childhood obesity, today picking pumpkins, and, above all, avoiding controversy, focusing on issues with broad appeal. So, as the economy takes a toll on her husband's polls, hers remain sky high.
After a clip of Michelle Obama campaigning, Mitchell concluded: "And Michelle Obama is just getting started."
Below is a complete transcript of the report from the Wednesday, October 19, NBC Nightly News:
BRIAN WILLIAMS: President Obama continued his jobs-promoting bus tour today. He was joined today by the First Lady, which, we have noticed, is happening a lot lately. Our report tonight from NBC's Andrea Mitchell.
MICHELLE OBAMA: This is nice day. It's good to see you. You're looking good.
ANDREA MITCHELL: On a military base in Virginia, Barack Obama's not so secret political weapon.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: How lucky am I to be married to Michelle Obama?
MITCHELL: On the White House jobs tour today, Michelle Obama is on message, announcing 25,000 private sector jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next two years. As the campaign gains speed, the First Lady is gearing up.
MICHELLE OBAMA: And I hope that all of you are fired up.
MITCHELL: She's raising millions, and, if he sometimes seems aloof, she is anything but.
MICHELLE OBAMA CLIP #1: I would like to thank all of you for planning such a lovely, intimate evening for the two of us.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHTER)
MICHELLE OBAMA CLIP #2: Who knows what will happen?
TINA BROWN, NEWSWEEK/THE DAILY BEAST: Michelle Obama really brings a warmth, a personal connection, a kind of strong womanly human connection that, you know, Obama, her husband, just cannot really seem to get.
MITCHELL: It's a transformation for a political spouse who was at first a reluctant campaigner and spent much of her first White House year focused on her children.
MICHELLE OBAMA: When Barack Obama started talking about running for President, I wasn't enthusiastic about the idea.
MITCHELL: That was then. Now she's everywhere, painting houses for military families, fighting childhood obesity, today picking pumpkins, and, above all, avoiding controversy, focusing on issues with broad appeal. So, as the economy takes a toll on her husband's polls, hers remain sky high.
ANITA MCBRIDE, FORMER LAURA BUSH CHIEF OF STAFF: She's willing to go out there, much more comfortable than she was in 2008.
MICHELLE OBAMA IN FRONT OF APPLAUDING CROWD: Do you have his back? Are you fired up? Are you ready to go?
MITCHELL: And Michelle Obama is just getting started. Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, Washington.
- Brad Wilmouth is a news analyst at the Media Research Center
