US first lady in final push of the 'Obama brand'

Washington

EVERY Christmas season, first ladies have visited sick children at the Children's National Medical Center. It's a White House tradition dating back to Bess Truman, who was photographed more than 60 years ago sitting primly beside a young boy, her gloved hands clasped on her lap.

For the past eight years, Michelle Obama has gamely read The Night Before Christmas to the children there. But this year, like nearly everything Mrs Obama has done recently, she made it into an event.