Janet Huckabee, Michelle Obama, Elizabeth Edwards and Ann Romney: Four Potential Presidential First Ladies

It is that time of year again, and this year, the Presidential race seems tighter than ever. The wives of the candidates have been placed under increased scrutiny and the limelight is shining brighter than ever. The wives of some of the Presidential candidates share many qualities in common including commitment to their families, friends, and country. They serve as great ambassadors to potential voters for their husbands.

The current crop of potential first ladies is college-educated and definitely more than willing to speak their minds about issues that are important to them. They are no longer just eye candy for the public. They host events, answer questions, and run their own cram packed schedule while trying to support their husbands at the same time.

On the Republican side, two particular wives met their husbands at a very young age and have been married ever since.

Janet Huckabee is the mother of three children, and the wife of current Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. She met her husband in high school and they got married at the tender age of eighteen. A year later, Mike Huckabee for President reports that she was diagnosed with spinal cancer but her husband never left her side. She was able to recover and live a very rich life. She is a former First Lady of Arkansas so she has some experience in that department. Back home in Arkansas, she is known for her great joy of life and passion for outdoors. She shoots from the hip and has no problem telling others what she thinks of them. However, this side of her personality seems to have vanished during the campaign. According to Newsweek, she is the picture of the perfect preacher's wife and tends to stay in the background on the campaign trail.

Ann Romney is the mother of five sons, and the wife of current Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. She has been living with the effects of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) since 1998 and is a former First Lady of Massachusetts. She met her husband while they were both in college and they just celebrated their 38^th wedding anniversary this year. As a member of the LDS faith, her family is what is most important to her above all else. She is a tireless advocate of at-risk youth and children in general. Mitt Romney for President reports that she uses her love of horses to help others by dedicating time and her leadership to equine therapy programs. She certainly has let her husband take the center stage and the campaign trail is no different.

On the other side of the political spectrum, we find two career-working women who certainly bring new ideas to the table.

Elizabeth Edwards is the mother of four children, and the wife of current Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards. In March 2007, she discovered that her breast cancer had returned stronger than ever. But Elizabeth Edwards, the daughter of a navy pilot, does not let this setback prevent her from enjoying her family and friends. Nothing can compare though, with losing her son Wade in a tragic car accident. She met her husband in law school and they have been happily married for thirty years. In addition to being an impressive lawyer in her own right, John Edwards for President informs us that Elizabeth Edwards is also a passionate advocate for children and education. She has strong opinions and can command good-sized crowds just like her husband.

Michelle Obama is the mother of two daughters, and the wife of current Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. She is a Harvard-educated lawyer who was actually her husband's summer mentor when they first met. Barack Obama for President says that she has worked in all different areas including corporate law, public service, non-profit work, community service programs. This wide range of experience would be well-suited for the demands that come along with being a First Lady. She and her husband have been married for a solid fifteen years. According to Slate Magazine, she has been a bit quieter on the campaign trail than earlier in the race but she still speaks her mind and wants to make sure that everyone does not put her husband on a pedestal. She realizes that we are all human and make mistakes.

Of all four women who are potential First Ladies, my choice for the position would have to be Michelle Obama. Michelle has worked with all sorts of people in her life and she definitely understands that in order to get things done, we all need to work together. She also has administrative experience, which is a key factor to making any First Lady's schedule run smoothly.