Michelle Obama is viewed unfavorably by 35 percent in a new poll.

(CNN) – She's been at times a lightning rod for criticism from some Republicans over the course of the presidential campaign, and a new poll out Wednesday suggests more Americans hold a negative view toward Michelle Obama than a positive one.

The new Associated Press-Yahoo poll shows 30 percent of Americans view the outspoken wife of Barack Obama favorably while 35 percent view her unfavorably. That compares to the 27 percent of Americans who view John McCain's wife, Cindy, favorably and the 17 percent who hold an unfavorable view of her. Mrs. McCain is clearly less known than Mrs. Obama — 56 percent said they don't know enough about the Arizona senator's wife to render an opinion while only 34 percent said the same for Mrs. Obama.

Watch: Cindy McCain discusses Obama

White Americans appear particularly suspect of Mrs. Obama. The poll shows those voters hold an unfavorable view of her by nearly 20 points while about 80 percent of black voters reported positive feelings about Mrs. Obama.

Those numbers are reversed for Cindy McCain: whites view her favorably by a margin of 17 points while only 10 percent of blacks like her.

In a similar trend line her husband faced during the primary season, Mrs. Obama's favorability ratings are higher among unmarried people and college graduates while her ratings are particularly low among senior voters.

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Michelle Obama will be surrounded by a team of veteran aides.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Barack Obama’s presidential campaign is planning to beef up the team surrounding his wife Michelle Obama, to give her the kind of professional campaign veterans experienced in rapid response to negative attacks – the kind of staff that is usually only seen around an actual candidate, according to a senior aide.

The move is meant to address concerns within the campaign that Michelle Obama will be the target of significant attacks from conservatives this year. Their pre-emptive response is a team that one aide says is unprecedented in presidential politics. According to multiple aides, this team will work with Mrs. Obama to modify her stump speech — in part to include more stories from the voters she met during the primary season — in a bid to counter criticism by some conservatives that she is out of touch.

Former Kerry campaign Communications Director Stephanie Cutter has already been tapped as Mrs. Obama’s chief of staff, and additional staff will be hired in the coming weeks.

Aides say they expect Mrs. Obama to make occasional campaign stops over the next several weeks — including roundtables with military wives, and a womens’ event next week – before hitting the trail full time around July 4.

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Michelle with her husband and daughters at a campaign event in Iowa last month.

(CNN)— Michelle Obama said Wednesday she was “touched” First Lady Laura Bush came to her defense when her patriotism was questioned.

“There’s a reason why people like [the first lady],” Obama said on ABC’s The View. “She doesn’t fuel the fire.”

Earlier this year at a campaign event Michelle Obama said, "For the first time in my adult life, I'm really proud of my country.”

WATCH Michelle Obama respond to questions of her patriotism

Laura Bush told ABC last week the remarks must have been misinterpreted.

"I think she probably meant 'I'm more proud,'" said the first lady, adding that "you have to be very careful in what you say" when you’re campaigning.

"That's one of the things you learn and that's one of the really difficult parts both of running for president, and for being the spouse of the president, and that is everything you say is looked and in many cases misconstrued."

Obama said Wednesday she had sent The First Lady a note that took her “a while” to write, but wouldn’t divulge any details because she didn’t know whether it had been received yet.

Related: McCain: Treat our wives with respect

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Michelle Obama said that her “passion” might be her a “strength” or a “weakness,” as she pulled up a chair Wednesday to chat with women of “The View”.

“At some level when you put your heart out there, there’s a level of passion that you feel and it’s a risk that you take,” Michelle Obama about how some voters may have perceived her. “One of the things I’m counting on is that people will see through it…the more they get to know me.”

Obama’s appearance on the ABC talk show, comes as aides tell CNN she is honing her message for the general election.

WATCH How would Michelle Obama be as a first lady?

She also took time to applaud Hillary Clinton for breaking down the barriers that have held back women, which Obama said will in turn help her two young daughters succeed in the future.

“Hillary Clinton has, as she said, created 18 million cracks on a ceiling and we need to keep pushing it and pushing it,” Obama said. She also noted that Clinton has been on the receiving end of some unfair criticism because she is a woman.

“It’s hurtful, but she’s taken them so that my girls when they come along, they won’t have too feel it as badly.”

A new poll shows Americans see Cindy McCain in a more positive light than Michelle Obama.

(CNN)—In a comparison between the wives of the presumptive Republican and Democratic nominees, Americans know more about Michelle Obama than Cindy McCain, but not necessarily in a positive way according to a new poll.

WATCH What kind of First Lady will Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain be?

In the latest Pew research poll conducted June 13 through 16, 78 percent have heard a least a little bit about the wife of Barack Obama, but up to 26 percent of those said the coverage of Michelle Obama has been mostly negative. In contrast, 54 percent of those surveyed claim to know a little bit about Cindy McCain and of those polled 31 percent say the coverage they have seen has been mostly positive, while only 7 percent felt she has been represented negatively.

WATCH How Cindy McCain views her role in the White House

The results, tallied from approximately 1,000 adults over the age of 18 with a sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 points show the overall image of the two is positive among their respective parties. 54 percent of Republicans surveyed hold a favorable view of John McCain’s wife, while 65 percent of Democrats have a positive view of Barack Obama’s wife.

Laura Bush addresses the press at the Presidential Palace in Kabul Sunday.

(CNN) – First Lady Laura Bush said Monday that as a veteran of the rigors of the campaign trail herself, she "admired Hillary's grit and strength."

"I know what it’s like to run those campaigns, to be the candidate and how very difficult it is both emotionally and physically,” Bush told ABC News. “It's a huge endurance, process of endurance, and so I'll have to say I have a lot of admiration for her endurance and strength."

"I know it's hard," Mrs. Bush said, "It's hard to do that and I think she did great."

Bush also defended Michelle Obama over a controversial comment that drew criticism from many conservative pundits – but offered caution for the wife of presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

Earlier this year, Michelle Obama told the crowd at a primary season campaign event that "for the first time in my adult life, I'm proud of my country." (WATCH what Michelle Obama said)

Later, she said her remarks had been misinterpreted, and that she had been referring to how proud she was that Americans were engaging in the political process as never before. (WATCH: Michelle Obama responds to her misinterpreted remarks.)

"I think she probably meant 'I'm more proud,'" said Laura Bush Monday, adding that "you have to be very careful in what you say" when you’re campaigning.

"That's one of the things you learn and that's one of the really difficult parts both of running for president, and for being the spouse of the president, and that is everything you say is looked and in many cases misconstrued."

Tennessee Republicans took aim at Michelle Obama Thursday.

(CNN) – In a preview of the potential political onslaught Michelle Obama may face in the fall, the Tennessee Republican Party unveiled a new Web video Thursday that highlights her controversial comment earlier this year saying she was proud of America "for the first time in my adult life."

The four-minute video coincides with Mrs. Obama's visit to the state for a Democratic Party event later Thursday. It features several Tennesseans saying why they are proud of America while repeatedly cutting to Mrs. Obama's comments.

"The Tennessee Republican Party has always been proud of America. To further honor the occasion of Mrs. Obama’s visit, the Tennessee Republican Party has requested the playing of patriotic music by radio stations across the state," said a statement on the party's Web site that accompanied the video.

"While Mrs. Obama has trouble being proud of the country where she earned degrees from Princeton University and Harvard Law School and then became a multi-millionaire, her husband makes statements that belittle average Americans’ response to the difficulties of life."

The Obama campaign called the attack "shameful."

"This is a shameful attempt to attack a woman who has repeatedly said she wouldn't be here without the opportunities and blessings of this nation," said Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan. "The Republican Party's pathetic attempts to use the same smear tactics to win elections have failed in Mississippi, failed in Louisiana, and will fail in November because the American people are looking for a positive vision of real change.

Full story

Watch Michelle Obama's comments with Suzanne Malveaux.

BOONVILLE, Indiana (CNN) — Michelle Obama said Wednesday that her husband's move to distance himself from his controversial former minister has been "painful," but that she's pleased with the way he's handled the situation.

"I was proud of the statement he made yesterday," she said in an interview with CNN's Suzanne Malveaux. "It was a tough thing for him to do — it's a painful situation to be in."

On Tuesday, Obama said he was "outraged" by comments the Rev. Jeremiah Wright made to the National Press Club in Washington on Monday. The candidate said he was "saddened by the spectacle" of what Wright said.

Full story

Listen to the Obama's remarks Wednesday.

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (CNN) –- Democrat Barack Obama's wife Michelle chose silence Wednesday when the couple were asked about recent comments made by their former pastor, and the harsh words Sen. Obama had for him Tuesday.

In a question-and-answer session with voters, the two were asked what kind of toll it takes on them to have to turn their backs on someone who had been good to them in the past.

Sen. Obama responded first, saying he "made a statement yesterday that was hard to make."

"What we want to do now though is to make sure that this doesn’t continue to be a perpetual distraction," he said.

Then he turned to his other half.

"Michelle, do you have anything to add to that?" After a brief hesitation he said, "You do, but…" He stopped and smiled as she shook her head.

The audience laughed.

"Remember, there are a lot of reporters around," he said, joining in the laughter.

Watch Michelle Obama speak out tonight in an interview with CNN's Suzanne Malveaux at 8:20 p.m. ET, with an extended version airing at on AC 360 at 10 p.m. ET

PHILADELPHA (AP) — Hillary Clinton is hoping the "Colbert bump" will help propel her to victory in Pennsylvania.

The Democratic presidential hopeful is making her first appearance on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" on Thursday. Both Clinton and Colbert have come to Pennsylvania ahead of the
state's hard-fought Democratic primary on April 22.

Clinton rival Barack Obama also is in Pennsylvania — but he is declining Colbert's invitation. Obama's wife, Michelle, will appear on the show Tuesday.

News of Clinton's visit was divulged Monday night in Philadelphia by MSNBC pundit Chris Matthews. He blurted it out backstage during taping of the show at the University of Pennsylvania's Zellerbach Theater. The news was confirmed by a person close to the satirical news program who insisted on anonymity because the visit has not been officially announced.

Democrats appearing on the show have sometimes enjoyed increases in fundraising afterward.

Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, will appear on the Colbert Report Tuesday, Comedy Central has announced.

The show is taping in Philadelphia all this week.

Watch Michelle Obama's comments Thursday.

(CNN) — Michelle Obama came to her husband’s defense Thursday, saying those who criticize him because of his middle name are playing on the public's fear.

“[Critics] said he was too black,” Michelle Obama told a group of supporters in Ohio. “Then they said he wasn’t black enough. [Then] when all else fails be afraid of his name and what that could stand for because it's different.”

Watch Michelle Obama's comments Wednesday.

(CNN) – Michelle Obama said Wednesday she has always loved America, seeking to quell the firestorm over her comment earlier in the week that seemed to suggest she is only now proud to be an American.

"What I was clearly talking about is that I am proud in how Americans are engaging in the political process," Michelle Obama told CNN affiliate WJAR after a campaign event in Providence, Rhode Island. "I mean everyone has said what I said, in that we haven't seen these record numbers of turnouts, people who are paying attention, going to rallies, watching debates.

“For the first time in my lifetime I am seeing people rolling up their sleeves in way that I haven't seen and really trying to figure this out, and that's the source of pride I was talking about," she continued.

On Monday, Michelle Obama told the crowd at a campaign event that "for the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country, because it feels like hope is making a comeback… not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change."

That comment immediately drew fire from several conservative talk radio-hosts. John McCain's wife, Cindy McCain, seemed to be responding to the remark when she introduced her husband at a campaign rally Tuesday by saying, "I am proud of my country. I don’t know about you, if you heard those words earlier — I am very proud of my country.”

On Wednesday, Michelle Obama said: "I love my country, and wouldn't be in this if I didn't care deeply and didn't believe that the kind of possibilities I had as a kid should be available to every single child."

Related: Cindy McCain, Michelle Obama in patriotism flap

– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Cindy McCain said she was proud of the United States during a campaign event Tuesday.

(CNN) — Tuesday morning seemed to bring the debut of yet another McCain-Obama flap – this time, Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama.

As she introduced her husband John McCain, the likely Republican nominee, at a campaign event, Cindy McCain told the crowd I “am proud of my country. I don’t know about you, if you heard those words earlier — I am very proud of my country.”

The comment seemed to be a response to a remark from Michelle Obama the day before. On Monday, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama told a Wisconsin audience that “For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country, because it feels like hope is making a comeback… not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change."

After Tuesday’s event, the McCains were asked if the Arizona senator’s wife had been responding to that comment. Cindy McCain did not directly answer the question, responding: “I just wanted to make the statement that I have and always will be proud of my country.”

On Monday, Obama spokesman Bill Burton released a statement in response to the controversy: “Of course Michelle is proud of her country, which is why she and Barack talk constantly about how their story wouldn't be possible in any other nation on Earth.

“What she meant is that she's really proud at this moment because for the first time in a long time, thousands of Americans who've never participated in politics before are coming out in record numbers to build a grassroots movement for change.”

UPDATE: In an interview with San Antonio radio station WOAI Tuesday, Barack Obama said his wife's comment has been taken out of context.

"Statements like this are made and people try to take it out of context and make a great big deal out of it, and that isn't at all what she meant," he said.

"What she meant was, this is the first time that she's been proud of the politics of America," he also said. "Because she's pretty cynical about the political process, and with good reason, and she's not alone. But she has seen large numbers of people get involved in the process, and she's encouraged."

– CNN Associate Political Editor Rebecca Sinderbrand

Sen. Obama and his wife, Michelle, in February 2007 when he announced his White House bid.

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina (CNN) – Michelle Obama told an audience Tuesday that electing an African-American president will challenge America to "look at itself differently.”

"Imagine our family on that inaugural platform," she said. "America will look at itself differently. The world will look at America differently. There is no other candidate who is going to do that for our country. You know that."

Obama was campaigning on behalf of her husband, Sen. Barack Obama, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. Obama told the audience at the historically black South Carolina State University that she and her husband realize there are doubts among black Americans about whether an African-American can win a presidential election. But she called those fears "the bitter legacy of racism and discrimination and oppression in this country."

"We would never entered this race if we were not confident that America was ready," she said. "We're not crazy."

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Mrs. Obama will be joining the popular talk show next month.

NEW YORK (CNN) — Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, will be a guest host on the television talk show "The View" next month.

Mrs. Obama will co-host the hour-long show on December 5th in New York, press secretary Katie McCormick confirmed to CNN Monday

The program’s regular panel includes: Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and Sherri Shepherd.

– CNN Political Assignment Editor Katy Byron

Jeri Thompson, Michelle Obama, Ann Romney, Elizabeth Edwards, and Cindy McCain put aside the competitiveness of the campaign trail on Tuesday to talk about being political spouses.

(CNN) – Fifteen years after Hillary Clinton made her then-controversial comment about being a career woman and not staying home to bake cookies, the wives of five contenders for the White House gathered in California Tuesday to discuss their involvement in their husband’s presidential campaigns.

The wives’ discussion with moderator Maria Shriver, wife of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, began with Shriver pointing out that the gathering was historic. “Never before,” Shriver said, have political spouses, “gathered together to talk about their lives, to talk about the campaign trail, to talk about what it’s like when someone from your family gets up and runs for president.”

And talk they did. Shriver asked Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle, what she had feared or worried about in the early days of her husband contemplating a run for the White House. “You always worry about your life getting sucked out from under you,” Mrs. Obama responded. “I’m very practical, I have to know how is this going to play out.”

For her part, Jeri Thompson, wife of Fred Thompson, sought to dash persistent reports that she has a prominent, strategic role in her husband’s presidential campaign. “I have a one-year-old,” Thompson said. “And, I have a four-year-old. That’s my main role,” Thompson said. “Other than that, I do what I can to help when he asks me.”

Elizabeth Edwards was not as modest as Jeri Thompson in explaining her involvement in John Edwards’ campaign. “We do know our husbands best. Sometimes if we think he’s being misrepresented or misserved by something, it’s our jobs as wives to say, ‘you know, I don’t think that’s really the best thing,’” said Edwards.

Cindy McCain, wife of Sen. John McCain and a veteran of a past White House run, brought a different perspective to the discussion. “My boundaries changed from 2000 to this race,” she said. “I have now myself learned to say no” to some of the demands of a presidential campaign.

Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann, spoke about the pressures of being a political wife. Gesturing towards Elizabeth Edwards, Romney rejected the assumption that statements or stances taken by the women always originate from their husband’s campaigns. “You have to be who you are. You have to have the flexibility and the luxury of expressing yourself for who we are as individuals,” said Romney.

The discussion was part of the 2007 Women’s Conference, a non-partisan annual event put on by California’s governor and first lady for the last twenty years. In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday, Shriver said former President Bill Clinton did not participate in the spouses’ panel because of a scheduling conflict and that Judith Giuliani, wife of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, “declined to attend.”

– CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart

Obama appeared on Leno Wednesday night.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — His chief rival for the Democratic nomination has a famous husband, but White House hopeful Barack Obama said Wednesday night his wife Michelle could go head-to-head with former President Bill Clinton.

"My wife, is no slouch, you see — if there's a debate between Michelle and Bill, you know, I'm putting my money on my girl," he said on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

The Illinois Democrat also laughed off Leno's suggestion that he might want to reconsider leaving his wife alone with the former president.

"Michelle can handle herself," he quipped. "She doesn't play."

Obama also said Bill Clinton's popularity in Democratic circles plays a significant role in wife Hillary's large lead in the Democratic field. The latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll registered Clinton at 51 percent nationally, compared to Obama’s 21 percent.

"Particularly among democrats, Bill Clinton is very popular," Obama said. "He's a great strategist. He's very smart when it comes to the politics of the Democratic Party."

"And, you know, there are a lot of chips out," he added. "People — you develop a lot of relationships when you're president. So that's part of the challenge that we have to face is making sure that people know me as well as they know her and as well as they know Bill."

But Obama sharply brushed aside suggestions Clinton was unbeatable and said the New York Democrat's early coronation as the party's nominee reminded him of President Bush's now infamous appearance on the USS Abraham Lincoln.

"Hillary is not the first politician in Washington to declare 'Mission Accomplished’ a little too soon," he said to laughter and cheers. "So we've got a long way to go before the first vote is cast."

– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Mrs. Obama was on her way to a campaign event when the accident happened.

(CNN) – Michelle Obama, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, escaped injury Tuesday when her campaign van was involved in an accident in Hampton, Iowa. A motorcyclist who struck the van was injured.

The accident happened as she was en route to a campaign stop. A motorcycle collided with the van on U.S. Highway 65 in the central part of the state.

The Obama campaign said in a statement, "The motorcyclist was transported to a nearby hospital, and Barack and Michelle's thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this time. Neither Mrs. Obama nor any members of the campaign staff were injured in the accident."

Police identified the motorcyclist as Timothy Scott Emerson, 41, of Iowa Falls, Iowa. He was taken by medical helicopter to Mercy Medical North Hospital, where a nursing supervisor said he was treated and released.

A report from the Hampton Police Department said the van carrying Michelle Obama was trying to make a left turn when it was struck. The motorcycle, which was three vehicles behind the campaign van, attempted to pass and struck the left side of the van, the report said, while traveling on the wrong side of the road.

The campaign event she was headed to was canceled.

Click here to see CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com

– CNN's Steve Brusk, Devon Sayers and Chris Welch contributed to this report

Watch Michelle Obama on the stump in New Hampshire Friday.

NASHUA, New Hampshire (CNN) — For those who have questioned the tenacity of Barack Obama's presidential campaign, his wife , Michelle, is fired up. In an emboldened speech Friday, Obama answered critics of her husband's professional qualifications and declared he can "stand up to Republicans."

"Don't worry about whether Barack Obama is ready–because he's ready. Michelle Obama is ready. We're in this,” she said. “We've already made the sacrifice. We've already suffered through the pains of a political process. We've invested our life in this."

On experience, Mrs. Obama addressed the issue head on calling him "one of the most experienced" people and pointed to his success as a first-term senator from Illinois.

"Trust me, Illinois is not bean bag politics. It's mean, vicious politics. So if people want to know, can he stand up to the republicans? Trust me, I've seen it. We've experienced it. We come out of Chicago, that's hard politics. And to be able to do it and be successful and still maintain a level of integrity and respect among your peers is a real accomplishment."

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