Play of the Day: It's a Family Affair

[January 02, 2008]  DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Campaigning was a family affair for the Obamas on Tuesday -- and the Clintons, Edwardses and Romneys, too.

Democrat Barack Obama brought wife, Michelle, and daughters, Malia and Sasha, to a rally in Des Moines. The couple planned a divide-and-conquer strategy for much of the final 48 hours of the campaign, departing for separate events during the day and reuniting for rallies at night.

Obama's girls, noticeably taller than when they appeared at their father's campaign announcement in February, reacted differently to the spotlight.

Six-year-old Sasha seemed to revel being in front of hundreds of cheering supporters, enthusiastically pulling her dad on the stage and waving with her hand over her head and a broad smile on her face. Nine-year-old Malia emerged close behind her father, waving with a timid grin when prompted but keeping it to a quick flick of the wrist in front of her.

"These are the stars of the Obama family," the presidential candidate said before sending them backstage as he delivered his stump speech.

At a house party in Johnston, Iowa, Republican Mitt Romney was introduced by his son, Craig, who talked about his 18-month-old son Parker.

"He's kind of picked up on the whole campaigning thing. If he were here today, he'd have to shake each of your hands and say 'Hi," he said. The other day in New Hampshire, he said Parker observed that his grandfather was signing books and magazines for supporters.

"We got home that night and it was pretty late ... and we look over and Parker has gone and he has gathered this stack of books and a pen, and he's opening up the front page and scribbling on the front page, signing all these books," Craig Romney said. "He's a future politician in the family."

Joining Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton was her 88-year old mother, Dorothy Rodham, and daughter, Chelsea. Her husband, former President Clinton, held separate events.

John and Elizabeth Edwards and their two young children, Emma Claire and Jack, joined forces for the day's early campaign events. Law school student Cate Edwards planned to meet up with the family in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

[Associated Press]

Compiled by Nedra Pickler.

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