While the President's approval rating is hovering in the low forties, 69% percent of Americans have a mostly favorable opinion of First Lady Michelle Obama. Although she was very successful in campaigning for the president in 2010, she did not accompany him on his Midwest bus tour last month.

A new article in "Essence" magazine provides a behind the scenes glimpse of the First Lady during her trip to South Africa, showing a side of her that the public does not often get to see.

Kirssah Thompson wrote the article after accompanying the First Lady during her trip to South Africa and she's on set today to discuss the experience with Carol Costello. Thompson is joined by Constance White, the editor-in-chief for Essence magazine, to weigh in on the First Lady's campaigning power and to talk about why she is so heavily criticized by the right.