Michelle Obama to Headline Fund-Raisers for Democrats Around the Country

According to the White House, it's all systems go for the First Lady who is excited about her participation in the fundraisers but who is also reputed to not be a "political animal."

Mrs. Obama's popularity has reportedly surpassed her husband's in polls and now she will test the waters by making appearances at nine events over the course of twelve days from October 13 to 27. There may be more events added to Mrs. Obama's already hectic schedule, especially around the upcoming November 2nd elections.

The First Lady will be campaigning for Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, whose name was seriously thrown around as a possible presidential candidate in the 2008 elections. She will also show her support for Senators Michael Bennet of Colorado, Patty Murray of Washington, Barbara Boxer of California and Senate hopeful Alexi Giannoulias of Illinois, who is trying to hold the Senate seat once held by the president.

White House aides say that the First Lady's schedule was carefully put together, so that she could attend the events and not disrupt the schedules of her time with her young daughters, Sasha and Malia. Mrs. Obama prefers fund-raisers and not rallies, because she does not travel on weekends, which is when they are typically held. Instead, she prefers to spend time with her children when they are home on the weekends.

Susan Sher, chief of staff to the First Lady, told the Associated Press:

"From the beginning, she's wanted to hit the campaign trail. It was just a matter of figuring out what would work with her schedule and what would be most useful."

Other first ladies who have stepped up to the plate to campaign for their fellow party candidates during midterm elections are Laura Bush, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barbara Bush.

Stephanie Cutter, an administration adviser, also told the AP:

"She's campaigning to advocate, to rally voters behind specific candidates based on what we can do together to build a better future. She comes to this as a Mom, and that's the lens through which she sees the world and that's her test for every issue - what it means for her daughters and all of our kids."

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