Obama aimed to humanize her husband by relating stories about him, attempting to appeal to female voters in swing states. Paul Harris of "The Guardian" said that the same tactic was being used by Ann Romney, wife of 2012 Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Polls in October showed their husbands tied at 47% for the female vote. However, Michelle Obama's favorability ratings remained higher than Ann Romney's at 69% to 52%. Despite Obama's higher poll numbers, comparisons between Obama and Romney were repeatedly made by the media until the election. But, as Michelle Cottle of "Newsweek" wrote, "...nobody votes for first lady."