Pool report by Abdon M. Pallasch, Chicago Sun-Times:
First Lady Michelle Obama early-voted in Chicago Thursday morning.
Just after 9 a.m. she entered the Martin Luther King Center on the South Side and was the first early voter of the day.
"I think that's you," Election Judge Dorothy Yarbrough, a retired CTA bus driver told the first lady after looking up Mrs. Obama's voting record.
"You think?" the first lady replied with a smile.
Chicago Board of Elections employee Charles Holiday gave the first lady a quick lesson on how to work the electronic voting machine.
At 5'-11", Mrs. Obama had to hunch over a bit to use the machine. It took her six minutes to get through the ballot, which, in addition to governor, senator, and the big offices, also includes 78 judges running to be elected or retained on the bench.
Social Worker Amanda Deisch was the second voter to show up Thursday morning. She snapped a cell-phone photo of the first lady as she took the voting machine next to her and began voting.
Voter Anna Roberts took the next machine and as Mrs. Obama was finishing up voting, she allowed Deisch to take another cell phone photo and she shook hands with both women.
Obama went back to the desk and handed in her voting machine key, saying "Make sure everybody's voting early."
She let more voters including electrician Dennis Campbell, 56, take some photos with her.
"She was telling me how important it was to vote to keep her husband's agenda going," Campbell said.
"I told her we supported her and her husband and we were praying for them," Deisch said. "I told her we're trying to get the kids moving - her childhood obesity effort."
Abdon M. Pallasch
Chicago Sun-Times
Lynn Sweet is a columnist and the Washington Bureau Chief for the 
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Michelle Obama is very gracious..I see no illegal activity by speaking w/the people after they voted..do you really think she could change a republican voted's mind by simple small talk? I mean,if you are there to vote & you haven't already decided,& suddenly,you see Michelle Obama...suddenly! your vote is swayed by a few simple words...something may be very screwed-up w/your mind!Folks,we have more problems in this world without this trivial nonsense..What would you like to do?..arrest Michelle,the First Lady,& throw her in jail! That would make all the repub's day,Iam sure!
Small talk? Let her keep her opinions to herself at polling places. If she has you, Bev, star struck than she could have the same effect on others. The internet, phone texts, cell phone service and other technology could spread her political manuevering like wildfire. But hey...tax cheats, terrorists, jackbooted black panthers, racist preachers, etc. are all the rage in the Obama household. What is one tiny violation of election law next to that? Change. Flaunt violations and criminals openly instead of behind closed doors. That way we come to expect it more AND excuse it.