US First Lady Michelle Obama joins Twitter revolution

Washington: US First Lady Michelle Obama has quickly snapped up tens of thousands of Twitter followers, as she joined the social network and opened a new front in her husband`s reelection campaign.

"Hi, everyone, and thanks for the warm welcome. Look forward to staying in touch with you here," @michelleobama said in a tweet authenticated by her initials "mo." The account will be mostly run by Obama`s 2012 reelection campaign, and is similar to @BarackObama`s Twitter output, which is also mostly a product of campaign staff. Occasionally however, the president, who is often pictured with a BlackBerry or iPad, does produce a personal tweet, designated by his initials "bo." By lunchtime yesterday, just a few hours after the account`s debut, @MichelleObama had garnered more than 80,000 followers on the micro-blogging site, an impressive total, but well short of her husband`s following which is close to 12 million. PTI