Michelle Obama is to guest host a popular television daytime talk show as the contest of White House hopeful wives begins.

Since Barack Obama's campaign against John McCain has started, Michelle Obama is stepping forward to engage in the other great contest of every presidential race: the first wives' battle.

Mrs. Obama was originally invited to be a guest on the show, but since Cindy McCain had presented the same talk show called 'The View' in April, she said that she would prefer to co-host the program to have more of a chance to display her complete personality, said Bill Geddie, The View's executive producer.

"Equal time, that's hard to argue with," he added. Mrs. Obama will present the show on June 18 and her duties will include helping Barbara Walters interview guests, and participating in the "hot topics" section.

No guests have yet been booked for Mrs. Obama's TV presenting debut, but when Cindy McCain appeared, the comedian Craig Ferguson headlined.

Barack Obama has traveled to The View's New York studio twice, once before and once after he began his campaign for President. John McCain has been on several times.

Mrs. Obama, a Harvard-educated lawyer married to the Illinois senator for almost 16 years, is thought in some quarters to be one of her husband's greatest electoral assets.

BGA/HAR