KEY POINTS:
It is the "other race" for the White House and 2008's Democratic Party field is already proving to be one of the most colourful and controversial in United States political history.
There are career women, stay-at-home mums, humanitarians, a high-flying lawyer, a cancer survivor, a black woman and even a Briton. And there is also a man (who just happens to be a former American President himself). Welcome to the First Lady contest. Let the games begin.
Fresh to the field and already creating a buzz is Michelle Robinson Obama, the wife of Barack Obama. Just as her handsome and youthful husband has created excitement among the political establishment, so his glamorous wife has caused a stir among fashionistas and glossy magazines.
Next month, the couple will grace the cover of black American magazine Ebony, which is carrying a lengthy article on their relationship. The pair head a list of the "top 10 couples" and the cover headline reads: "America's Next First Couple?" A beaming Obama is shown with his wife standing behind him, her hands draped sexily over his chest. Inside, the pair talk about their relationship, including a long paean from Obama on the importance of "the little things" in keeping their marriage aflame.
"Sometimes it is just the little things that make the difference. Just me putting the dishes in the dishwasher," Obama says.
Such trivial details are important. While Obama and his fellow Democratic presidential rivals will fight over healthcare policy, taxes and the war in Iraq, the contest between the spouses has always been about an image of blissful marriage and traditional values.
"Americans are really traditional when it comes to First Ladies. They like them to be interesting and fun, but not too threatening," said Larry Haas, a political commentator and former official in the Clinton White House.
The role of the First Lady is not a modern creation in American politics. Though the US' founders stripped out a lot of the ceremonial aspect of government in reaction to throwing out the British monarchy, the First Lady quickly came to occupy that space.
"Ceremony smacked too much of royalty. But, of course, everyone still needs that. That's where the First Lady comes in," said Catherine Allgor, a political scientist at the University of California at Riverside and an expert on First Ladies.
But this year's Democratic field could contain one character who is decidedly non-traditional: Bill Clinton. Not only would he be a "First Gentleman" or "First Husband" if Hillary Clinton won the White House, he is also a former two-term President who has already lived for eight years at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Imagining Bill Clinton - famed for his micromanagement and political guile - in the stand-offish role of society host is difficult for many political observers. That also means he could be a political liability, potentially scuppering his wife's chances by overshadowing her on the campaign trail.
Yet at the same time there is no doubting Bill Clinton's ability to help win a tough election fight, tapping into a large well of nostalgia for the prosperous and peaceful days of his presidency.
Managing the prospective First Husband is going to be one of the most difficult aspects of any Hillary Clinton campaign. "I just don't know how Americans are going to react," said Haas.
Ironically, though, Bill Clinton's famed ability to connect with his audience is a classic trait of a good First Lady. It would neatly counterbalance the perception of his wife as cold and unfriendly.
"First Ladies have to be able to emotionally connect and also be larger than life. I think Bill Clinton could be an excellent First Lady," said Allgor.
But a more traditional First Lady than either Michelle Obama or Bill Clinton appears in the wife of the other major Democratic candidate, John Edwards.
Edwards, who has a strong power base in the vital first battleground state of Iowa, is married to Elizabeth Edwards, whose recent battle with cancer saw a huge upsurge of sympathy among many Americans. She has also been on the campaign trail before, during Edwards's vice-presidential run in 2004, where she won a lot of public and press support. She often seems a Democratic echo of the present First Lady, Laura Bush, one of the most popular First Ladies of recent history.
A less happy reminder of the Democrats' 2004 campaign is the spouse of candidate John Kerry, who is still considering a run in 2008. His billionaire wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, was a controversial figure in 2004 because of her outspokeness and public gaffes.
Then there is Tipper Gore, who, if former Vice-President Al Gore decides to run, will also be returning to a career that she already knows a lot about - even though, she too, was a source of controversy for her efforts to remove obscenities from rap and rock lyrics.
But as other, less well-known candidates declare their races or openly flirt with running, a host of other potential First Ladies have emerged.
One is an English-born statuesque redhead, Elizabeth Harper, wife of Dennis Kucinich, another a highly successful banker and Blockbuster board member, Jackie Clegg, wife of Chris Dodd, while yet another is a former newspaper columnist, Tom Vilsack's wife Ann.
All in all, the field of candidates is one of the most unusual in history.
- OBSERVER
MORE HATS IN THE RING
DEMOCRATS
* Announced candidates
Chris Dodd, senator from Connecticut.
John Edwards, former senator and the vice-presidential nominee in 2004.
Dennis Kucinich, representative from Ohio and 2004 presidential candidate.
Tom Vilsack, former Iowa Governor.
* Formed exploratory committee
Hillary Rodham Clinton, senator from New York and former first lady.
Barack Obama, senator from Illinois.
* Other expected or possible candidates
Joseph Biden, senator from Delaware and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Wesley Clark, retired US Army general and 2004 presidential candidate.
John Kerry, senator from Massachusetts and the presidential nominee in 2004.
Bill Richardson, New Mexico Governor.
REPUBLICANS
* Announced candidate
Sam Brownback, senator from Kansas.
* Formed exploratory committee
James Gilmore, former Virginia Governor.
Rudolph Giuliani, former New York Mayor.
Duncan Hunter, representative from California.
John McCain, senator from Arizona and 2000 presidential candidate.
Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts Governor.
Tom Tancredo, representative from Colorado.
Tommy Thompson, former Wisconsin Governor.
* Other expected or possible candidates
Newt Gingrich, former House of Representatives Speaker.
Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas Governor.
Chuck Hagel, senator from Nebraska.
- REUTERS
