On Thursday's Today, NBC's Kristen Welker touted Michelle Obama's "powerful, one-two punch" with Hillary Clinton, as the First Lady joined the Democratic presidential nominee on the campaign trail. Welker added that despite their "complicated relationship in the past," Mrs. Obama "has become Clinton's not-so-secret weapon — blunt and beloved." She also hyped the current First Lady's "very personal speeches connecting with voters, especially women." [video below]
Anchor Matt Lauer led into the correspondent's report by noting the "relationship between two of the country's most-influential women." Welker first spotlighted that "Clinton campaign officials call Michelle Obama a 'rock star' — someone capable of energizing the Obama coalition; while, at the same time, shredding Donald Trump." She continued with her "complicated" label of the two women's relationship, and underlined that "now, one top official tells me, there is no better surrogate."
The NBC journalist wasted little time before dropping her "powerful, one-two political punch" phrase and played up, "An increasingly-frequent presence on the trail, the First Lady has become Clinton's not-so-secret weapon — blunt and beloved....The very personal speeches connecting with voters, especially women."
Welker then detailed how "it wasn't always rosy between the current and former First Lady." She included a soundbite from author Kate Anderson Brower, who contended, "What's that old adage — the enemy of my enemy is my friend, you know? — the fact that the Clintons and the Obamas are bound together in their dislike and their deep disdain for Donald Trump." It should be pointed out that Brower is a former journalist for Bloomberg News and CBS News — a detail that Welker omitted from the segment.
Near the end of her report, the correspondent underlined that "Michelle Obama's approval rating is higher than Clinton's, and even her husband's — the First Lady a unifying figure the campaign hopes will be the closer." She also noted that "one top Clinton official tells me they were actually surprised by how eager and accessible Michelle Obama was to get out onto the trail — leaving open the possibility this might not be the last time you see these two women together between now and Election Day."
On CBS This Morning, Nancy Cordes briefly touted how "[Hillary] Clinton will campaign for the first time today with First Lady Michelle Obama, who has turned out to be one of her most powerful advocates." ABC's Cecilia Vega echoed Welker's labeling during her report on the presidential race on Good Morning America:
CECILIA VEGA Today, she [Clinton] is calling in backup — her superstar surrogate, First Lady Michelle Obama, side-by-side with Clinton on the campaign trail for the very first time. She is the not-so-secret weapon, who seems to love her new role. And now, Clinton looking ahead to election night. Her team announcing it will hold her election night party in New York City in this arena, under a literal giant glass ceiling — hoping for a symbolic victory that would shatter it into a million pieces.
The full transcript of Kristen Welker's report from the October 27, 2016 edition of NBC's Today:
MATT LAUER: As we mentioned, today, Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama are campaigning together for the first time during this election. NBC's Kristen Welker has been looking at the relationship between two of the country's most-influential women. Kristen, good morning to you.
KRISTEN WELKER: Matt, good morning to you. Clinton campaign officials call Michelle Obama a 'rock star' — someone capable of energizing the Obama coalition; while, at the same time, shredding Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton, though, and Michelle Obama have had a complicated relationship in the past; but now, one top official tells me, there is no better surrogate.
WELKER (voice-over): This morning, a first: Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama teaming up on the campaign trail together—
HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE (from campaign rally): Thank you!
WELKER: For a powerful, one-two political punch.
MICHELLE OBAMA (from Hillary Clinton campaign rally): Hello, everyone!
WELKER: An increasingly-frequent presence on the trail, the First Lady has become Clinton's not-so-secret weapon — blunt and beloved.
M. OBAMA: Say enough is enough! (audience cheers and applauds)
WELKER: The very personal speeches connecting with voters, especially women — one official telling NBC News this famous line from Michelle Obama's convention speech—
M.OBAMA (from speech at 2016 Democratic National Convention): When they go low, we go high.
WELKER: Has become one of the Clinton campaign's guiding principles.
CLINTON (from presidential debate): I am reminded of what my friend Michelle Obama advised us all: when they go low, you go high.
WELKER: And Clinton aides say there is no one better at attacking Donald Trump.
M. OBAMA (from Hillary Clinton campaign rally): He is threatening the very idea of America itself, (audience cheers and applauds) and we cannot stand for that.
WELKER: But it wasn't always rosy between the current and former First Lady. In 2008, when Hillary Clinton was locked in a bitter battle with then-Senator Barack Obama, tensions, at times, boiled over.
BARACK OBAMA (from 2008 Democratic presidential debate on ABC): You're likeable enough, Hillary—
CLINTON: Thank you so much—
WELKER: Mrs. Obama even getting personal.
M. OBAMA (from 2008 campaign event): You can't run your own house, you certainly can't run the White House.
WELKER: Words a pro-Trump super PAC has now seized upon in a new ad.
M. OBAMA (from Make America Number 1 political ad): If you can't run your own house, you certainly can't run the White House.
WELKER: Author Kate Anderson Brower writes in her book, 'First Women,' that tensions lingered into the second administration — Mrs. Obama even privately rooting for Vice President Joe Biden to run against Secretary Clinton last year — but all that's forgotten now, with the two women sharing a common purpose.
KATE ANDERSON BROWER: What's that old adage — the enemy of my enemy is my friend, you know? — the fact that the Clintons and the Obamas are bound together in their dislike and their deep disdain for Donald Trump.
WELKER: Michelle Obama's approval rating is higher than Clinton's, and even her husband's — the First Lady a unifying figure the campaign hopes will be the closer.
M. OBAMA (from Hillary Clinton campaign rally): We need to do everything we can to help her and Tim Kaine win this election. I know I'm going to be doing it. Are you with me? (audience cheers and applauds)
WELKER (on-camera): One top Clinton official tells me they were actually surprised by how eager and accessible Michelle Obama was to get out onto the trail — leaving open the possibility this might not be the last time you see these two women together between now and Election Day. Matt, Savannah?
LAUER: All right. Kristen Welker — Kristen, thank you very much.
