Battle of the Obamas: Barack Vs. Michelle

Together, the Obamas Embody Perfect Package for Celebrity-Obsessed America, but How do They Measure Up Against Each Other?

(AP)  He's more powerful; she's more popular.

He sells millions of books he's written; she sells millions of magazines she's posed for.

He gets more Internet clicks - except when she does.

There are plenty of ways to score a theoretical Barack v. Michelle celebrity smackdown.

But if one is to engage in this just-for-fun dissection of the phenomobama, it must be stipulated that Barack is the president, which does give him certain advantages.

Then again, Michelle has the fashion factor working for her. And motherhood. And those sculpted arms. And, she doesn't have to tackle sticky issues like cutting the federal budget.

Taken together, the Obamas represent an almost irresistible package for celebrity-fixated Americans.

"This is in some ways like medicine coated with candy," says Jake Halpern, author of "Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truth Behind America's Favorite Addiction." "It allows people to get their celebrity fix and still feel like they're engaging and learning something about civic life."

So how do Barack and Michelle measure up against one another?

YOU LIKE ME!

This round goes to Michelle - for now, at least.

Her favorability ratings trailed his in public opinion polls throughout 2008, but lately she's had the lead.

In a trio of recent polls, Michelle's favorability ratings beat Barack's 73-69, 67-54 and 76-72.

But Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center, which conducted one of the surveys, cautions: "Don't make too much of the popularity gap at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue."

He says it's not unusual for a first lady to be more popular than the president, since the spouses often can more easily steer clear of controversy.

Still, Michelle's steady rise in the polls over the past year represents a nice recovery for the first lady, who had a rocky time of it after critics seized on her remark in February 2008, during the thick of the presidential primaries, that she was proud of her country "for the first time in my adult life."

MONEY v. BEAUTY

The president's two best-selling books brought in about $2.5 million in royalties last year.

That helped propel him to No. 49 on the Forbes Celebrity 100 Power List, right between George Clooney and rapper 50 Cent. (Angelina Jolie ranked first.)

Obama is the first sitting president to make the list, which is based on celebrities' earnings and mentions in the media.

Michelle didn't make the cut.

Then again, she made People magazine's "100 most beautiful people" list. He didn't.

They both turned up on Time's 100 "most influential people" list.

COVER GIRL

Michelle Obama sells magazines: She's been splashed across the cover of Vogue, People, O magazine, Time and more.

"She's a solid seller," says Larry Hackett, People's managing editor.

A February issue of People with Michelle on the cover sold 1.36 million copies. January's "inauguration special," whose front had the Obamas dancing together at an inaugural ball, sold 1.6 million.

Hackett says there's big interest in the Obamas, but maybe not as big as the hype might suggest.

The Obamas "are relatively more fascinating and interesting, but it's not by some crazy factor," Hackett says.

Barack has had his own cover spreads - he was on the front of Men's Vogue in 2006 and 2008, and fronted Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Esquire and GQ last year, too.

And it's Barack - not Michelle - who's had a swimsuit edition: Washingtonian splashed a photo of a shirtless Obama in his swimsuit on the cover of its May issue.

The headline declared: "Our new neighbor is hot."

Final sales numbers aren't in yet, but "so far, it's selling really well," said Beth Sara Widger, circulation manager for Washingtonian.

Barack has been a best-selling subject for a number of news magazines. But his image doesn't guarantee huge sales.

In May, the first issue of the redesigned Newsweek, with a close-up of Obama on the cover, was no barnburner, according to preliminary, unaudited figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

At times, magazine editors' enthusiasm for all things Obama seems to run away with itself.

The teaser headline on the cover of the June/July issue of the Conde Nast men's magazine Details: "Can President Obama Make You Better in Bed?"

No comparable headline for Michelle. Yet.

BRAINS v. CLASS

Intelligent is the single word that most often comes to mind when people think of Barack Obama, according to a Pew survey conducted in April. That was followed by "good" and "socialist."

For Michelle, the words most often volunteered were "classy" and "nice."

"Intelligent" was not far behind, though.

CLICK MAGNET

Barack is the click magnet - one online measurement company says he's been the subject of about twice as many Internet searches as his wife so far this year.

But Michelle dominates the click picture from time to time.

In each of the past four months, there were some weeks when she generated more searches than did he, according to Hitwise, an online measurement company.

Among the top search terms paired with Michelle Obama: fashion, garden, style, "in the news," sneakers, bio, and "touching the queen," (after her touchy-feely encounter with Queen Elizabeth in April).

Among the top search terms paired with Barack Obama: biography, Israel, news, jokes, stimulus package, birth certificate (related to those persistent but unfounded rumors that Obama is not a natural-born citizen and thus ineligible to be president.)

To put things in perspective, though, both Obamas were far overshadowed in recent weeks by searches related to Oprah Winfrey, Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears, according to Hitwise, which analyzes Web sites visited by 10 million people who use certain Internet service providers.

While selling the Obamas is easier than selling other politicians, says People's Hackett, "they're still in politics, and that comes with some baggage."

[John_Merritt]

It appears at times CBS News, and others, almost try to create conflict among everyone. The Obama's appear to be a loving family and their bond is strong.

What does CBS News do? They create a comparative analysis of the parties. What is their motive? Who knows, but it sounds like filler to me. Good article CBS.

P.S. The Obama's are both educated and well rounded individuals who happen to love each other. No more, no less.

[mjvwsr]

Barack Vs. Michelle - I'll take Michelle; especially if she starts swinging those big hips around. He don't have a chance.

[skyk-2009]

I guess ditto heads, acting like little children, think attacks on the Nations President and First Lady, not on issues of policy, but attacks at them personally makes their tired old failed policies look better. I can't for the life of me understand how any person who can think for themselves would believe that. They have completely given up ANY slim chance of ever being relevant to the majority of American's by wishing for the failure of this President so I guess why not!

[specialty8]

skyk, I guess people are just getting tired of no results. In the artical yesterday when Obama arrived at the Kremlin they said the skies parted away to brilliant sunshine. Everyone is starting to get tired of it and the polls are dropping.

[billpl-2009]

i don't what the point of this article is

[skyk-2009]

You do know there are Night Classes available at just about EVERY High School. Seriously if you can read any better than that, if you can not understand the point of the Article, you need to get into a few of them.

[Snowhare]

To all of you: If this article is so superfluous, why did you read it?
It is clear from the headline on that this is not an article on any serious issue.
If you read it through, anyway, don't complain you didn't learn anything worthwhile. If you are not interested in this kind of smalltalk - uh, smallwrite - don't read it. To go after CBS (or wherever such articles are published) for the non-news in it is stupid. Just read the articles about dead soldiers if you are only interested in that. To be honest, I rather read something fun about the Obamas than have another big headline about Mr. Jackson's funeral and his heirs' quarrels about kids and property! The remarks by a CBS journalist about the strangely organized press conferences and set-up "townhalls" shows that the press will not only be schmoozy with the Pres. They will criticize him soon enough.

[speakinup22]

"Celebrity-Obsessed America" - only in CBS's opinion.

The media is out of touch with what the public wants.

We want facts, they give us hype (trying to be the news instead of reporting it).

We want what is really happening in the world, they talk about pictures in front of huge cannons, this piece, and all about the teacher that gave 5ex tapes to his clas by mistake (althought CBS viewers DID comment on that one alot - kinda makes you wonder about most of their clientele.)

Pathetic - simply Pathetic.

[Snowhare]

America is not celebrity-obsessed?
That's probably why 11 Million (!) people wanted a ticket for Michael Jackson's farewell. Most of them Americans.
You should really think before you write - especially if proof to the contrary of what you say is so much in the foreground as it is at the moment.

[skyk-2009]

Now SINCE, We the PEOPLE, have the CHOICE where we read and get our info and SINCE CBS is in the business to make PROFITS, how do you come to the conclusion you do? Look I think you ditto heads need to understand that YOU are a very small minority in this nation right now and have fallen to levels so LOW it has set historic Records in areas outside the South. YOU need to try to find ways to improve YOUR appeal to PEOPLE and stop wishing for failure of this man. SERIOUSLY you and your party are the biggest joke out there right now!

[specialty8]

If her arms did not drag the ground when she walks she would be more popular than Obimie. He better get back on the Oprah show and make up some ground.

[Snowhare]

I have to agree with woeisme1: your comment is so horribly racist, it should be censored! And people like you usually deny they themselves are related to apes! You are just as close to a gorilla as Michelle O. The difference is: you behave more like one.

[skyk-2009]

Ah the Klan has to have a representative I see! LOL But then what can you expect? These people have been an embarrassment to the rest of us for how long now?

[soapergirl]

Sadly, 90% of the media are owned by conservatives and they call the shots on what's put on your screen and what isn't. I agree with ralpherus. Stuff like this is not news, and is a shame and disgrace to thinking people everywhere. Seems like if we want true journalism, its best to look elsewhere outside of the U.S. mainstream media. (and CBS wonders why its ratings are so dismal!)

[cdegolier]

Sadly, you have no idea what you are talking about.
1. NBC President Jeff Zucker-Democrat
2. CBS President Leslie Moonves-Democrat
3. ABC President David Weston-Democrat
So for stuff like this you only have democrats to blame educate yourself a little everyone knows the main media outlets are liberal biased.

[ralpherus]

American soldiers have been killed....ON our soil, by islamists...and you waste energy and time on this? And on michael jackson (sad as it was what happened to his life)?? Get back to some journalism.... REPORT FACTS, not fluff, not propaganda. You know what real Americans find shocking? HOLDER STOPPING THE PROSECUTION OF CRIMINALS. THAT IS NEWS. The US Government at war against Freedom. THAT is news.
Media promoting anti-American government, THAT is news.

[xlib]

Ah yes, the daily messiah puff piece. And today we are treated to a bit on the proud michelle.
My God, this is sickening.

[wellfooie]

Does someone pay you to write this crap or do you believe we are all living in never never land?? Why do they call this CBS NEWS?? Why not call it Continental Barak Service? No news, just mushy crap about the Dictator. And maybe when he has total control over the US he will be lenient on you. /.,';HA HA. DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT.

[skyk-2009]

One-American, you have a brain that is malfunctioning! HONEST man, YOU need to seek some help because in your poor small little mind EVERYONE who does NOT agree with you is a Liberal. I KNOW you need help because I, like My Father before me, am a LIBERAL and YOU haven't a clue what I'm about or what I stand for. It is an Obsession with you to the point that its a mental illness. If you do NOT seek help you will be the next wingnut in the news on his way to lockup... for a very long time I'm afraid.