US First Lady Michelle Obama has appeared for the first time during this presidential election race with Hillary Clinton, whom she called “my girl”.
At a rally in the swing state of North Carolina, the former rivals heaped praise on each other’s commitment to public service, women and children.
Mrs Obama said Mrs Clinton was the most prepared candidate for the presidency ever, including both their husbands.
The display of unity follows past friction between the two of them.
But on Thursday the two sought to convince the crowd their relationship was more than a political alliance born out of shared interests.
Michelle Obama said it herself – it is unprecedented for a sitting first lady to be on the campaign trail in such a way, even more so to be campaigning for a former first lady who was once in the rival camp.
But the tensions of 2008 have long evaporated. Mrs Obama had taken what was widely perceived as an indirect swipe at Mrs Clinton then, telling voters: “If you can’t run your own house, you certainly can’t run the White House.”
