First lady fires shots to break deadlock

Democrats kicked off their 2012 convention with first lady Michelle Obama firing the first shots of a three-day salvo aimed at breaking the electoral deadlock with Republicans.

With 62 days until Americans decide who will occupy the Oval Office for the next four years, the US first lady made the case it should be her husband, the first black president of the US.

Michelle, who is more popular than the president, made a big effort to woo women voters to eke out any advantage in a race marked by polls that are too close to call and a dearth of undecided voters.