The women who made US Prez polls interesting

New Delhi: Hillary Clinton may have lost her battle to put a woman in the White House but the 56th Presidential elections has seen more woman-power in the campaign than ever before.

The wives of both Barack Obama and John McCain have stood shoulder to shoulder with the presidential candidates.

And because of them women power came to the fore as a campaign issue.

Known as the closer in the Democratic camp Michelle Obama earned this title when she managed to bring undecided women voters to her husband's camp.

"I stand here as a proud wife of my husband. He will make an extraordinary president," Michelle Obama said during the campaign.

Her Jackie Kennedy look got her a place in the People Magazine's annual list of the best dressed women. Republican vice-presidential candidate Governor Sarah Palin's wardrobe was watched more sharply. Even so this mom of five with her hair piled up on her head managed to get the crowd in for John McCain.

"She's going to shake them up and i think it's awesome. It's going to bring other people in," a Republican supporter said.

She teamed up with the other crowd puller for republicans - multi-millionaire beer heiress Cindy McCain.

Hillary made the transition from Obama rival to key campaigner with grace, shattering many glass ceilings in the process.

"Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it," Hillary said after losing the nomination to Obama.

And made it easier for the women of the future? As Obama stands with his young girls in the campaign limelight, tears for the one woman who would have been proudest of all - but died just a day before the vote.

Obama's 86-year-old maternal grandmother Madelyn Payne Dunham died on Monday.

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)