PHILADELPHIA: When her husband first ran for president in 2008, Michelle Obama cautiously entered the political arena, fully supportive of his candidacy yet wary of the country's partisan battles.
Two terms later the first lady known for her wit, style and tact has emerged as a political force, tapped to endorse Hillary Clinton in a primetime address at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia Monday.
"I think Hillary Clinton is a phenomenal woman," she said in April at a White House event for kids. "And I've gotten to know her, and I think she's made some pretty major contributions over the course of her life."
- Preserving a legacy -
Armed with popularity ratings above 60 percent, Michelle Obama knows how to captivate an audience: at the 2008 convention in Denver, Colorado, she stepped into the national spotlight with remarks that stressed Barack Obama's commitment to American values.
That speech resurfaced last week thanks to none other than Clinton's rival Donald Trump. The billionaire's wife Melania introduced herself as a political spouse with words strikingly similar to Michelle's 2008 speech.
At the 2012 convention in Charlotte, South Carolina, Michelle said that even after four years as head of state, her husband was the same man.
"I have seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are - it reveals who you are," she said.
In stumping for Clinton, Michelle is setting aside any gripes left over from the tense 2008 campaign that saw her husband and this year's Democratic nominee exchange barbs.
The Obamas know that a Clinton presidency is the best way to preserve the president's accomplishments, including health care reform, the Iran nuclear deal and renewed relations with Cuba, said Peter Slevin, a Northwestern University professor who wrote the first lady's biography.
"Michelle Obama understands the political moment, recognizes the importance to her husband's legacy," Slevin said.
- No political aspirations -
Her reputation as a political superstar has fueled rumors that Michelle might have her own presidential ambitions.
But the Harvard-educated lawyer has no plans to follow the lead of Clinton, also a former first lady who later become secretary of state.
"Running for political office is not Michelle Obama's thing," biographer Slevin said.
"Though she has proven to be very good at delivering political messages, at pushing policies that are important to the administration, I think she just could not bear the idea of running for office and raising money and doing all the things you have to do if you are in office."
"Hillary Clinton is an impressive woman. I will not do what she has done -- I will not run for president," she said. "But there are other things that I want to do to stay involved in working in public service."
Her husband Barack has also tried to cut through the speculation that the Obamas might try to keep living at the White House.
"There are three things that are certain in life: Death, taxes and Michelle is not running for president," he said earlier this year.
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