Capital culture: He's powerful, she's got style

WASHINGTON — He's more powerful; she's more popular.

He sells millions of books he's written; she sells millions of magazines she's posed for.

He gets more Internet clicks — except when she does.

There are plenty of ways to score a theoretical Barack v. Michelle celebrity smackdown.

But if one is to engage in this just-for-fun dissection of the phenomobama, it must be stipulated that Barack is the president, which does give him certain advantages.

Then again, Michelle has the fashion factor working for her. And motherhood. And those sculpted arms. And, she doesn't have to tackle sticky issues like cutting the federal budget.

Taken together, the Obamas represent an almost irresistible package for celebrity-fixated Americans.

"This is in some ways like medicine coated with candy," says Jake Halpern, author of "Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truth Behind America's Favorite Addiction." "It allows people to get their celebrity fix and still feel like they're engaging and learning something about civic life."

So how do Barack and Michelle measure up against one another?

YOU LIKE ME!

This round goes to Michelle — for now, at least.

Her favorability ratings trailed his in public opinion polls throughout 2008, but lately she's had the lead.

In a trio of recent polls, Michelle's favorability ratings beat Barack's 73-69, 67-54 and 76-72.

But Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center, which conducted one of the surveys, cautions: "Don't make too much of the popularity gap at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue."

He says it's not unusual for a first lady to be more popular than the president, since the spouses often can more easily steer clear of controversy.

Still, Michelle's steady rise in the polls over the past year represents a nice recovery for the first lady, who had a rocky time of it after critics seized on her remark in February 2008, during the thick of the presidential primaries, that she was proud of her country "for the first time in my adult life."

MONEY v. BEAUTY