Michelle Obama and Chicago mayor's race: Won't say who she is voting for

WASHINGTON–First Lady Michelle Obama is going to vote in the Feb. 22 Chicago mayoral primary. But when I asked her Tuesday who she was going to vote for, she declined to answer.

President Obama, on the other hand, has lavished praise on front-runner Rahm Emanuel, his former White House chief of staff and allowed Emanuel’s campaign use of audio and video from the lavish East Room send-off he gave him.

I asked about her vote and Mrs. Obama told me–during a lunch session with print reporters who cover her–” I know, Lynn. I’m not telling you who I voted for. I haven’t voted yet. I haven’t voted yet. But my vote is mine, too.”

This is one of a series of posts I have been writing from the hour lunch with Mrs. Obama, booked to mark the first anniversary on Wednesday of her “Let’s Move” anti-childhood obesity campaign.

Check out my blog at www.blogs.suntimes.com/sweet for posts on:

*Mrs. Obama on President Obama quitting smoking

*Mrs. Obama defending serving sports bar food at her Super Bowl party at the White House–and her message on moderation and balance–that small doses of junk food are okay.

*The lunch menu Mrs. Obama served her print press corps on Tuesday.

*”Let’s Move” overview