By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted May 2, 2008 – Michelle Obama has hit the campaign trail this week to help get the campaign back on message and off the Rev. Jeremiah Wright drama.

Obama told CNN that her husband has spoken for them both on the topic, and she’s ready to move on.

 “So, yes, it was painful. Yes, it’s been difficult. But I think that, you know, the more difficult thing that this country is facing is really trying to move politics into conversations around problems and problem-solving. And that’s what we’re going to be pretty determined to do. And I think, you know, this is about all I’m going to say on the issue,” she said.

…But veteran journalist Barbara Walters sure had plenty to say this week…

… And, of course, she said it first to talk-show diva Oprah. Walters is about to embark on a book tour to promote her memoir, “Audition.”   A leaked transcript of the show revealed that Walters talked about a romantic relationship she had three decades ago with  Massachusetts Republican Sen. Edward Brooke, who in 1966 became the first Black elected to the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction.

 Who knew?

Brooke and Walters’ careers were both on the fast-track in the early 1970s, so they both decided to keep the relationship under wraps.  Brookes’ was married at the time, and Walters was a recent divorcée.

“I was excited, fascinated, intrigued and infatuated,” Walters recalls.  She admits she wanted to marry him and asked him to divorce his wife, but friends warned her that the ethical and racial issues would ruin both of their careers.  The affair ended before Brooke’s re-election campaign in 1978.

And, finally …

…While Sen. Hillary Clinton keeps her eyes on the prize, one of her super-delegate supporters decided to make a super-switch Thursday and jump on board with Sen. Barack Obama.

Joe Andrew, the former head of the Democratic Party (from 1999-2001), appointed by former President Bill Clinton, announced his leap to the Obama camp during a news conference in his hometown of Indianapolis.

Andrew explained his endorsement and encouraged other super-delegates to do the same, saying that uniting around Obama was the best way to “to heal the rift in our Party.” There was some good news for Clinton, however; she is gaining in polls in Indiana and North Carolina polls, leaving Obama with slimmer leads in both contests.