Michelle vs. Bill

May 2, 2008

If you were a candidate, you’d be better off with Michelle Obama than Bill Clinton at your side, according to marriage and family therapist Julie Albright.

“Obama’s wife will help him in this election — she is a lovely, well-groomed professional woman who reflects well on him and helps promote an image of him as a stable family man — which speaks to character,” Albright says.

“On the opposite end of the spectrum is Senator Clinton’s husband, our former president, Bill Clinton. While some may say that she will have a wealth of experience to draw from in terms of advice from him, he may be a liability to her, as people don't want the appearance of a ‘puppet’ president with the former president pulling the strings,” Albright says. “Also, his multiple, well publicized affairs make their marriage look less than solid, casting doubt on their stability as a couple.

“So in the Obama case, the spouse is in the plus column. In the Clinton case, the spouse has both pluses and minuses, though the minuses seem to outweigh the perceived benefits,” Albright concludes.

Albright, a lecturer in the Sociology Department of the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, is an expert on marriage, infidelity and family issues.