Michelle Obama Steps In

Michelle Obama is standing in for her husband, taking the stage in Ohio as Barack visits his ailing grandmother in Hawaii. 

Obama opened up about his heartfelt trip to his 86-year-old grandmother saying, "She's gravely ill. We're not sure...and I'm still not sure she makes it until Election Day."

Talking about the first things he'd planned to do when he saw his beloved grandma, Obama said, "I want to give her a kiss and a hug and then we're going to find out what chores I can do around the house because I'm sure there's been some stuff left undone."

Back in Ohio Michelle praised her husband's grandmother, who the family calls Toot. "You probably know that Toot is a very important person, as many of our grandparents are. But Toot helped to raise Barack."

Michelle took the stage wearing a black shirt, colorful skirt and black boot, plus minimal make-up. However, in the fashion department, it's still Sarah Palin's extravagant wardrobe that's making headlines.

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Sarah Palin Defends Her Style

"Those clothes are not my property," said the vice presidential candidate, speaking out for the first time about the controversy over her $150,000 wardrobe. 

Palin tells FOX News that she's actually a super thrifty shopper. "If people knew how Todd and I and our children shop – so frugally. My favorite shop is a consignment shop in Anchorage, Alaska called 'Out of the Closet,' and my shoe store is called 'Shoe Fly' in Juneau, Alaska. It's not Fifth Avenue type of shopping, but RNC is purchasing some clothes that...they're either returned or are going to charity. They're not my property."