acknowledges significant needs mrs. obama. no one knows more about what s at stake in this election than our first lady. reporter: 16 years ago in the closing months of mrs. clinton s time as first lady she was running for senate in new york. mrs. obama has no interest in being on the ballot now or ever, friends say. a comment she made in the 2008 campaign is now being revisited as a swipe at clinton. if you can t run your own house, you certainly can t run the white house. reporter: just last week trump raising it in north carolina. wasn t she the run that originally started the statement, if you can t take care of your home, right? reporter: aides to obama say she was not talking about clinton who they say she respects and has grown fond of. hillary clinton is my friend. reporter: now clinton is hoping the popularity of both obamas rubs off. the president s approval rating at 59% in a new cnn/orc poll and 54% believe things in the country are going well.