The Other Obama

April 8, 2008 / Add comment

Collins writes a vast profile of Barack Obama's wife Michelle; born into a working-class family on Chicago's south side, educated at Princeton and Harvard, Obama is tough and self-assured, but personally gracious. On the campaign trail, she plays a key role, connecting easily with women and with black communities and humanizing Barack by providing sometimes embarrassing glimpses into their domestic life. She has also stirred controversy, drawing heat for refusing to offer traditional spousal boilerplate on the campaign trail. Though unfailingly positive (and unabashedly enamored), Collins' reporting provides a valuable close-up of a fascinating potential first lady.