WASHINGTON--First Lady Michelle Obama, in an interview on the Tom Joyner show on Wednesday booked to spur African American early voting, made a rare mention that her father, Fraser Robinson, was a Chicago ward precinct captain. Mr. Robinson had a job with the City of Chicago back in the days when patronage was rampant in Chicago's City Hall and having the backing of a ward organization was very helpful.

Mrs. Obama also said in colorful language she was pleased that people were praying for her and President Obama: "And let me just tell your listeners that it means all the world to us to know that there are prayer circles out there and people who are keeping the spirits clean around us."

Mrs. Obama: "Well, you know, my parents were always conscientious folks. I mean, my father was a precinct captain for a while, and that was just something we always knew you had to do. It was never a question. And we have to be at that place again.

"It is not just about voting once and then waiting for the change to happen. We have to vote every time. As you know, we've got a mayoral race coming up. We've got city council members coming up. We've got a governors race. All of that makes a difference in the direction this country will take and the voices who will lead that change.

So, once again, we have the power. We've got this man in office. I think we're all proud of Barack and his accomplishments. Everybody I know in our communities are praying for us. Every day we feel that. And let me just tell your listeners that it means all the world to us to know that there are prayer circles out there and people who are keeping the spirits clean around us."