Spouse appeal: Wives help Obama, Romney campaigns

It’s no coincidence that Michelle Obama and Ann Romney are showing up a lot more as the tight presidential race barrels into the final few months.

The rival campaigns are rolling out their top assets in a big way. The first lady is the public face of a new grass-roots mobilizing effort for Team Obama. And Mrs. Romney’s recent interviews have put her on display cutting through the campaign din – including her blunt statement Thursday that her husband has provided everything that “people need to know” and won’t be releasing more tax returns.

Although Mrs. Romney is still largely unknown to a large swath of the public, both women are well regarded by voters in their own parties, and the campaigns are going all-out to use their appeal in ways that go well beyond the traditional presidential cookie bakeoff.

“They really do appear to be in it to win it, both of them, and sincerely in it to win it,” says Anita McBride, who served as Laura Bush’s chief of staff in the White House.

Mrs. Obama on Thursday made her debut as the leader the Obama campaign’s new “It Takes One” program, which asks supporters to do one thing to promote the campaign – and to engage someone else to do likewise.

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