HOW CLEAN IS YOUR WHITE HOUSE?

The First Lady's role is currently a politically active one in the US, where both LAURA BUSH and TERESA HEINZ KERRY have been trotted out to campaign for their men in a more proactive manner than usual. Watching these two chatting happily is, therefore, a rare sight, considering they are every bit as big political rivals as their menfolk. Perhaps the only thing they have in common are these virtually twinned outfits they unwittingly both wore to the presidential debate. Away from dress sense, however, the body language signs are that these two are as alike in personality and style as two peas who have never got within spitting distance of the same pod.

The closeness on show here seems to have everything to do with proximity and nothing at all to do with empathy or respect. Teresa is rarely one for pomp and spin, and her pose says she's actively social here, leaning into Laura as though swapping designer details while her fixed eye contact and raised hand signal physical confidence and high status.

Laura's response is to create physical space where she was offered none. She has leant away from Teresa and her clasped hands are raised in a barrier.

Laura's personal style is formal to the point of regal and unlike Teresa she rarely indulges in public shows of affection or emotion. Hence the polite but swift retreat when the much more tactile Teresa makes her move.

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