‘Look, I Am My Husband’s Best Friend’

Were you eager to go through another presidential election?
I wasn't as eager as others were. I had to come around. I'm very happy and I support him 100 percent, and I'm onboard onboard. But having done this before, I knew what I was getting into, and I didn't know if I was ready to make the sacrifice again. It's not that I don't believe in my husband, but if I was going to do this, I wanted to do the very best I could and give 100 percent. So I did have to think about it a little bit.

It seems like the election is a lot more personal for you this time, given that you have two sons who are active in the military.
For me, it is personal. We have taught our kids, hopefully by example, that service is the most important thing, the best thing you can do with your life. John is all about his country, all about giving … It's all a part of the fiber of our family.

It must be hard at times to sit in your husband's town halls and hear other mothers talk about their sons who are serving in Iraq or have been lost in the war. You carry a phone with you at all times so that you won't miss a phone call from your sons, but I was standing near you earlier this year when you missed Jimmy calling from Iraq and saw how upset you were.
We don't talk about our sons in the campaign, but I will say from a mother's standpoint, if I can hear his voice, I know he's OK. And I know that's a feeling that thousands upon thousands of other families in this country have felt. It's been good for me to meet other mothers who are going through what I go through, and I have made a lot of lasting friendships through this common bond.

You must have been concerned about a repeat of the dirty politics that happened during the South Carolina primary in 2000. Your husband likes to joke that he slept like a baby — sleeping a few hours before waking up to cry. How easy or not easy was it for you to get past what happened?
It took me longer. It's another lesson I learned from my husband about forgiveness. I have publicly said it was very difficult for me because it was my daughter. I think any mother would agree with me. You can go after me, but stay away from my children. In a sense, I am over it. I can sit here now and say it was just politics, and that's the downside to all this. There are some sides of politics that are not nice. We had elected not to talk about it with her until she was old enough, but unfortunately, I discounted the fact that she might Google herself. So we had to deal with it much sooner than we expected. I have tried to make her understand about politics, but she doesn't understand. She is still very hurt from it. But we're a family, we protect each other and we deal with it.

I believe I read she asked you why President Bush hated her.
Yes, she did. I did the best I could to say it wasn't President Bush. But what she doesn't understand is … "how could people say things like that, because you've always taught me to treat people with respect." It's the lessons you teach in life. She couldn't believe someone would do that. She still can't believe it.

How much do you advise your husband on his campaign? Last year, when the campaign virtually collapsed, people said you played a big role in trying to right the ship.
Look, I am my husband's best friend, best adviser and closest confidant. I am trying to be a good wife. I want what he wants, what is best for him, and, then as now, that's all I want. So if I see something wrong, I am going to tell him about it. If you're asking about guiding policy, I don't do that. If it's about taking care of him and making sure that he's being served well, of course. He's my first concern.

You do realize that if your husband wins, you'll have to move to Washington.
Everybody has been telling me that! [Laughs] Of course. What an honor. To even be in this situation is not anything I ever imagined in my life. Just to be here is remarkable. I can't think that far ahead. Hopefully if we do, it will be a good experience.

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