She met Barack Obama when they were among the few African Americans at their law firm, Sidley Austin LLP, and married him in 1992. She campaigned for his presidential bid throughout 2007 and 2008, and again in 2012.
She endorsed Hillary Clinton and made several high-profile speeches in favor of her, including an address at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
She was found to have a higher percentage of support than Elizabeth Warren, among other potential candidates, for winning the Democratic nomination in a May 2015 Rasmussen poll.
She was found to have a higher percentage of support than Bernie Sanders, among other potential candidates, for winning the Democratic nomination in a May 2015 Rasmussen poll.
She was compared to Ann Romney, the wife of 2012 Republican candidate Mitt Romney, by some commentators and media outlets during the 2012 presidential election.