Just days after Michelle Obama addressed the Democratic National Convention, a Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that her favorability ratings have reached their highest levels since tracking began and she is now viewed more favorably than Cindy McCain.

Obama, whose controversial comments earlier in the campaign, made her the focus of much media scrutiny, now is viewed favorably by 55% of voters and unfavorably by only 36%. Two weeks ago, the wife of the Democratic Presidential nominee, was viewed favorably by 48% and unfavorably by 43%.

Thirty-four percent (34%) now view the potential first lady Very Favorably, a major improvement from 24% who held such a positive view of her in earlier surveys. Twenty-two percent (22%) now have a very unfavorable impression of Obama.

Obama’s improvement has come across almost all demographic categories. Fifty percent (50%) of white voters now view Mrs. Obama favorably. In prior surveys this number was in the low to mid 40’s.

By contrast Cindy McCain’s numbers over the past three months have been relatively steady. Fifty percent (50%) of voters now view the wife of the GOP nominee, favorably, while 31% have an unfavorable impression. Mrs. McCain is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention next Wednesday, which could give voters better insight into the potential first lady.

Women are more enamored with Mrs. Obama than male voters. Sixty-one percent (61%) of female voters view Mrs. Obama favorably along with 48% of men.

By contrast more male voters than female voters have a favorable impression of Mrs. McCain. Fifty-three percent (53%) of male voters say they have a favorable impression of Cindy McCain and 31% view her unfavorably. Forty-seven percent (47%) of females have a favorable impression of Mrs. McCain and 31% have an unfavorable opinion.

Three out of five American voters (62%) say their perception of a presidential candidate’s wife is at least somewhat important to how they vote. This latest survey found that 21% of voters say it is very important. Only 9% say it is not at all important.

Fifty-two percent of voters think that the candidate’s wives should get the same media scrutiny as other senior officials in the campaign, while 35% say they should not be put under a microscope by the media.

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