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      *Michelle Obama, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, will sit in with the ladies of ABC's morning chatfest, "The View," on Dec. 5, reports the New York Post.

       Mrs. Obama's co-hosting gig will surely enliven the show's half-hour Hot Topics segment, during which regulars Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd and Barbara Walters talk about the day's headlines. Obama will fill in for co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who is away on maternity leave and usually causes the most tension during the Hot Topics segment because of her Republican political viewpoints.      

       Meanwhile, Sen. Hillary Clinton, who has been a guest on "The View" several times, is leading in informal polls among African American voters. Michelle Obama recently told reporters that black voters currently leaning toward the former First Lady will turn to Obama as the primaries approach.       

      It appears as if that's happening already.

       According to the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll released Tuesday, Sen. Obama has surged to a four point lead over Clinton, and an 8 point lead over John Edwards.

       In a survey of likely Democratic caucus-goers in Iowa, Obama draws support from 30 percent, compared with 26 percent for Clinton and 22 percent for former senator John Edwards. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson received 11 percent, according to The Post.

       The poll also asked Iowans whether they are more interested in "new direction and ideas" or "strength and experience." 55 percent said they favored new ideas and direction, compared to 33 percent who preferred experience. Among the "new direction" voters, 43 percent favor Obama and 17 percent back Clinton.