Barack Obama's wife, Michelle, a popular draw but also a lightning rod on the Democratic presidential campaign trail, defended her patriotism and praised her husband's former Democratic rival during an appearance on ABC's "The View" Wednesday.

The appearance gave Mrs. Obama, who is not running for office on her own, the chance to build her image and acquaint the public with her background and personality. It came after a guest-hosting gig by John McCain's wife, Cindy, in April.

Obama has taken flak for saying in February that she was proud of her country for the first time, but on Wednesday she said her pride in her country was not a new thing.

"I take (the criticism) in stride. It's a part of this process -- we're not new to politics, but of course, let me tell you, of course I'm proud of my country," she said. "Nowhere but in America could my story be possible ... I'm a girl who grew up in the south side of Chicago. My father was a working-class guy all his life, because of his hard work he sent not only me but my brother to Princeton ... What I was talking about was having pride in the political process."

She also said she was "touched" when first lady Laura Bush came to her defense on the issue in an interview last week.

"And that's what I like about Laura Bush," Obama said. "You know, just calm, rational approach to these issues. And you know, I'm taking some cues. I mean, there's a balance. There's a reason why people like her. It's because she doesn't, sort of, you know, fuel the fire."

The Obama campaign says the potential first lady, an attorney and vice president for the University of Chicago's Medical Center, has been unfairly defined by a few incidents, including the statements about being proud of her country and her Princeton graduation thesis in which she wrote she does not believe she could ever be fully integrated into white society as a black woman.

She took a lot of criticism for those comments and for the general perception that she's edgy, angry or seething with some kind of racial resentment. But she has also been credited with being in touch with young people and for playing a close advisory role to her husband.

Despite reports that Mrs. Obama would not want Hillary Clinton on her husband's ticket, she said Wednesday that the New York senator has created opportunities for other women with her historic run for the presidency.

Asked if Clinton should join her husband's ticket, she said she has nothing to do with that decision.

A Rasmussen Reports national survey released last week found that 42 percent of voters viewed Michelle Obama unfavorably while 48 percent viewed her favorably. The same poll found that 29 percent viewed Cindy McCain unfavorably and 49 percent viewed her favorably. The poll of 1,000 likely voters had a margin of error of 3 points.

Part of Mrs. Obama's image restructuring accompanies the hiring of her new chief of staff, Stephanie Cutter, a Democratic operative who was communications director for 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry and a longtime adviser to Sen. Edward Kennedy. Cutter, who also was a consultant to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and a communications director for the Democratic National Committee, has the experience to shape a message and image for Mrs. Obama.

The campaign has also launched the "Fight the Smears" Web site to counter some of the stories being spread about the Obamas by bloggers and in e-mail campaigns, including the unfounded claim that Michelle Obama used the word "whitey" at a public appearance.

Some say all Obama needs to do is be likable, and as Sen. Claire McCaskill, an Obama supporter, was quoted saying, avoid "sounding like a lawyer trying to win an argument."

FOX News' Steve Centanni and The Associated Press contributed to this report.