Michelle Obama Prefers Dick Van Dyke to Debates

By Sandra Sobieraj Westfall

10/09/2008 at 08:30 AM EDT

Two debates down, one to go. And Michelle Obama would be just fine staying at home for that last one, thank you very much.

The wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama admitted Wednesday night that she generally doesn't like to attend her husband's debates. "I get nervous," she explained on the The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. "I'm fine with people calling me and saying he did a good job. And it's like, Good, I got to watch Dick Van Dyke."

Calling herself "an Obama-Mama," Michelle said she's nonetheless a tough critic. "I'm not soft on Barack. I put myself in the position of a voter and I tell him ..., 'If I don't believe you, I'm not voting for you, buddy. You've got to win me over.' "

As for twitters about her so-called snub of GOP rival Cindy McCain after Tuesday night's debate, Michelle said "some of that gets over analyzed." (TV footage of the post-debate glad-handing on stage showed the candidates' wives standing within reach, but not greeting each other or even making eye contact.) Obama said she had already shaken Cindy's hand backstage, adding, "She's very cordial."

Barack Obama and John McCain face off in their final debate on Oct. 15 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.

RELATED ARTICLES:
• Barack Obama says Cher is 'pretty hot'
• Barack and Michelle talk about their house rules