Michelle to the Rescue!

I just had to laugh as I read this:

After 18 months of careful image-making and bipartisanship, Michelle Obama is shifting course as first lady, stepping up her policy agenda and dipping into election-year politics to campaign and raise money for Democrats.

Michelle Obama spent some of her summer promoting activities for children.
Despite stinging criticism of her summer vacation to Spain with daughter Sasha — aides warned her not to go, and the backlash was fiercer than they had imagined — Mrs. Obama is the most popular member of her husband’s administration.

Being the most popular member of Obama's administration is like being the best ballerina in Amarillo. It may mean something locally, but not much anywhere else.

She'll only be able to go to the most liberal areas because she simply doesn't have the popularity to help candidates in tough races.