They all agreed. “She was lovely.”

Sarah Brown finally stepped out from the shadow of her husband, Gordon, and appeared on the campaign trail.

While the prime minister was dashing around the world as a global economic statesman, saving the financial system, Sarah was helping save her husband’s political reputation on home soil.

She made numerous appearances in Glenrothes, Scotland, to campaign on behalf of the Labour candidate Lindsay Roy, a headmaster at Gordon’s old school, in a parliamentary constituency that backs on to his own Kirkcaldy seat.

So successful were her visits that Labour began to regard her as a “secret weapon”, boosting Gordon’s image and helping defy the bookmakers’ odds and hold onto the seat against a confident Scottish National Party (SNP).

“It was nice to see her,” said Louise Glancey, a 44-year-old staff nurse, who saw her campaigning.

“I think, generally, people are happy to see them [Sarah and Gordon]. It’s annoying to get the leaflets, but it is good to see them being enthusiastic.”

She added: “I quite admire her not being dressed in Armani — she just wore a plain black suit, quite normal.”

Christine Barbour, 61, a retired council worker, added: “She wasn’t pushy.

“She was nicer looking in real life than on TV. Tall and elegant.”

“She was down to earth,” John Johnstone, 72, a former tanker driver, said.

“The majority of the country is working class, so it’s important to be able to speak on their level. She was very easy to speak to.”

The conversation did not delve into the merits of Keynesian philosophy during an economic downturn, but rather in the style of Michelle Obama, it touched more upon the domestic.

“We talked about children,” Barbour explained.

While Sarah Brown has kept a lower profile than the wife of Barack Obama, the U.S. president-elect, they have both exuded affection and admiration for their husbands.

Sarah’s surprise appearance at this autumn’s Labour Party conference, defending her husband ahead of his crucial speech, won glowing reviews.

She may not yet stretch to gently mocking Gordon for leaving his socks lying around Downing Street, or proclaiming “Gordon gets it” in a similar vein to Michelle Obama, but she has increasingly become a factor in Gordon’s survival strategy.

Now all she needs to do is get rid of her excessive minders.

“She was surrounded by the Gestapo,” Barbour said.

“There was an entourage of about 10,” added Glancey.

Journalists and TV crews felt the full force of their menace. “I want you guys on the green,” they quoted the Labour men as saying.

“There will be six or seven guys with guns who will keep you away from her. You may be shot and then it won’t be my problem.”

Winning over the voters is half the job. Winning over the media can be more difficult — just ask Cherie Blair.