As they say, behind every great man is an even greater woman—or at the very least, one who's calling the shots when their husband isn't willing to do so. Whether or not you consider Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney or Donald Trump great, one thing you can't deny is that they're all very ambitious men, and all three of them have their wives to thank for it.
President Barack Obama celebrated his 48th birthday today by bringing cupcakes and singing to veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas in front of the assembled press corps.
In our series on the 2008 presidential couples; Tango explores the Obamas. Barack and Michelle met each other at a law firm; he worked for her. Now he's one of the most famous first-term Senator of all time. But they're still partners and would likely make a formidable White House pair. Tango explores whether or not they are the best suited of the front-running candidate to call themselves Mr. and Mrs. President. "They met in 1989, while he was still a student at Harvard Law School (where he was the first black president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review). Barack was interning for a Chicago law firm, and Michelle was his summer supervisor. She later told a reporter that she fell for him 'for the same reason many other people respect him: his connection with people.' Throughout his political career, she has been an asset. A Princeton grad, she's a Chicago native from the city's South Side. That association helped him win seats both in the Illinois legislature and the Senate. Now an executive at the University of Chicago Hospitals, she's savvy in dual roles as career woman and political wife. In an interview in The New Yorker, she was frank about the stress of the latter role: 'It's hard, and that’s why Barack is such a grateful man.'"
While desperately trying to stay abreast of the mess of presidential coverage on TV, I recently sat down and watched Michelle Obama speak at Villanova. Although I did like getting another (albeit sugar-coated) view of Barack's goals and aspirations, I wasn't sure how I felt about the candidate's spouses speaking on their behalf. I mean, I wouldn't want my husby making any type of speech for me if I was running for prez. He might slip up and say something about my unreasonable stiletto habit or my tendency to skip the news for a Will & Grace rerun. Yes, I know it's a far fetched, since I couldn't even commit to running for student council president in fifth grade. Give up my recess? I don't think so.
Wondering about the candidates in the presidential primary? YourTango's got you covered. As part of our series exploring couples in the presidential race, we bring you inside the marriage or Ron and Carol Paul. "Ron Paul is running for the Republican Party Presidential nomination on a platform of no-jokes Libertarianism, which whether one agrees with his politics or not, clearly is a sign of determination. His wife of nearly 51 years, Carol, has stood by Paul throughout his medical and Congressional years, as well as his time on the campaign trail, despite requiring heart surgery to implant a pacemaker while garnering support in Iowa in August 2007."
Part of Tango's series on the couples of the 2008 presidential primaries, we go inside the marriage of Republicans Mike and Janet Huckabee. "They met in junior high school; by senior year, they were dating. At the age of 18, he didn't quite have the money for an engagement ring yet and proposed with the pull-tab of a soda can. They married in her parents' living room in Hope, Arkansas, in 1974. One could say Mike and Janet Huckabee have humble beginnings and have culled a rock-solid relationship over the last 30 years. During the last two decades, they have shared success and hardship."
They say behind every good man is a great woman, but just how important is the first spouse? Tango explores the relationship between the top 2008 presidential candidates and their partners. Which couple is best suited for a stay in the White House? Find out here. We profile the Obamas, McCains, Clintons, Romneys, Pauls, Huckabees and Edwards.
2008 Presidential Candidates: We put politics aside and ask you to cast your vote on the charisma; stability; chemistry; visibility and synergy levels of each candidate and his/her mate.
In our series on the 2008 presidential couples; Tango explores the Clintons. Bill and Hillary; love 'em or hate 'em; are the most dynamic couple in American politics. Tango gives you a little insight to what kind of presidential pair they would make.
In our series on the 2008 presidential couples, YourTango explores the McCains. From John's time in a Vietnamese prison camp to Cindy's battle with addiction, YourTango gives you all you need to know to decide if the McCains have what it takes to live in the White House. "He was a war hero, a former prisoner in North Vietnam; she was the daughter of a wealthy beer distributor and almost 20 years his junior. They met in 1979 at a reception in Honolulu. 'We both lied about our ages,' Cindy told a reporter. 'I made myself older and he made himself younger.' Before they could marry, he had to divorce his first wife (although they still remain on good terms)."
