The Increasing Role Of Political Spouses

(CBS)  Whenever a politician declares for the presidency, two people can expect to be put under the microscope: the candidate and the candidate's spouse. CBS News correspondent Russ Mitchell reports that events this week only serve to underscore that reality.

John Edwards went to Las Vegas this weekend to talk about his plan for health care, but her new battle with cancer made this more then just another stump speech.

"I'm proud to have my wife Elizabeth with me here today," the former Senator told the crowd. "She'll be with me every step of the way."

It's a surprise twist in a presidential election where spouses have become central campaign characters sooner than ever before.

"It seems very early for there to be this much pressure on candidate spouses and appearing as a couple," said Elizabeth Mehren, a professor of communications at Boston University.

---

---

The extraordinary travel and time demands on presidential candidates make it impossible for spouses to stay on the sidelines.

"The increasing length of time that these national campaigns are running under now, and the concentration of these early primary states for nomination, the spouses are just critical to the campaign," said Sarah Brewer of American University's Women & Politics Institute.

Michelle Obama – at first apprehensive – is winning over audiences. Anne Romney kept a low profile when Mitt Romney was governor of Massachusetts, but not anymore, despite her Multiple Sclerosis. And Cindy McCain is along for a ride on Senator John McCain's Straight Talk Express much earlier than she was in 2000.

"Now, there she is sitting next to him – grinning from ear to ear, hair perfect, looking adoring," Mehren said.

Then there's the super spouse: Bill Clinton. The former president is a fundraising machine who has raised more than two million dollars for his wife over the past week alone.

"If he blinks he raises money, and I don't see how anyone can compete with that," Mehren said.

Traditionally, spouses of presidential candidates worked behind the scenes early in campaigns. Back in 1908, Helen Nellie Taft had White House meetings with Teddy Roosevelt demanding he anoint her husband William Howard Taft as the nominee of the Republican Party.

"And Roosevelt finally looked her in the face and said, 'I think you are the one ambitious for the presidency'," said Carl Sferrazza Anthony, a historian of presidential families.

In modern campaigns a message of two for the price of one is generally tolerated, if not accepted.

"There's been an increased expectation in an even more substantive role the spouse will provide," Brewer said, "not just in the campaign but also in the administration."

But there's risk too for candidates with complicated families – like Rudy Giuliani. His wife Judy is a favorite of gossip columns.

(Mehren//130715)
"It's tough to be a third wife on a good day of the week, but its pretty tough to be a third wife when your husband is running for president," Mehren said.

The challenges that lay ahead for these women – and man – will be a compelling plot line of the 2008 campaign. In one case, it could be a life and death struggle.

"This moment right now with Elizabeth Edwards really does show the significance of the spouse," Brewer said.

[dannib50]

I believe the role of the spouses in this presidential election is significant. To have the support of their loved ones always looks to be a great charater builder. As far as Rudy Giuliani's wife being a gossip colomnist who care's? This is her life and her job I do not feel she should be looked down on because of that. When it comes to Hillary Clinton the name alone and having a husband who was a former president may get her elected. I believe we need to give the spouses of these candidates a lot of credit. They do have to deal with alot during the campaign, which last a long time. Elizabeth Edwards is the top spouse by far in my book. She is on television all the time talking about hot spots in her husbands campaign. She stands tall and speaks loudly about her husband, his issues and his concerns. Some of these other candidates spouses need to speak up, Elizabeth Edwards is in the lead right now..

[anopinion1]

And then hilary is even worse of a candidate then the latter. She wont answer controversial questions that people want to know her view on. I.E. gay marrage.

i am democrat and would love to vote this way but i see no viable options at this point. Maybe al gore.

[anopinion1]

America would be blessed if Edwards would drop out of the race and quit using his wife as a prop. This article is only here because his wife got attention by announcing to the media that she has cancer.

????why would someone tell the media they have cancer??? For some reason i see some underlying purpose to this... sympathy...

And then their is obama.... come on he is to young and inexperienced to run at this time. maybe in 2016 would be a good time.(yea yea obviously he way more capeable then bush but who isn't)

[forthepeaple]

The American People,PLEASE DO ME A FAVOR GO TO WWW.SCOOP.CO.NZ AND LOOK UNDER SEARCH TAB,PUT IN PENTAGON WHISTLE-BLOWER IRAC IRAN READ ALL 9 PAGES GOOD AND SLOW TAKE IT IN AND SEE WHY DAVID A BELANGER IS SO MAD AT OUR GOVERNMENT THAT HE IS RUNNING FOR THE OFFICE FOR AMERICA

IMMEDIATELY No matter who they are, Democrats in positions of Leadership, from the County Leadership to the Leadership of the Congress that do not execute the will of the people, must be removed from their Leadership Positions and replaced with someone that will effectively execute the office in which they are trusted.

CONGRESS FIDDLES WHILE IRAQ BURNS AND BUSH RUNS AMOK!

Write your Representatives and Senators! SHOW THEM YOUR DISDAIN OF THEIR COWARDOUS ACTIONS WHILE OUR TROOPS ARE BEING KILLED AND OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES ARE BEING TRAMPLED ON BY THIS

SO VOTE FOR A REAL AMERICAN THAT WANTS TO GIVE ALL AMERICA BACK TO WHO OWNS ITS AMERICANS, AND HIS MANE IS DAVID A BELANGER FOR PRESIDENT AMERICA CHOICE FOR FREEDOM.. SENT HIM A NOTE AT [e-mail] AND SHOW HIM YOUR SUPPORT.

[scott4261]

I believe America would be blessed to have Elizabeth Edwards as First Lady and John Edwards as President.

[cmayes2]

It doesnt matter how much money Bill Clinton can raise, it doesn't mean that the people in the Democratic party wants Hillary. I'm an african american and I will be voting for Senator Obama, and also my other 100 voting family members. That may not be enough to bring him over the top, but that's what our family has decided to do. We are so excited!!! I've never seen this feeling among the family before.