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(CBS News) — First Lady Michelle Obama has played a major and at times humorous role on the final day of her husband’s three-day bus tour through North Carolina and Virginia.

Joining the president at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia, Mrs. Obama announced a new private sector commitment to hire 25,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013. Improving the lives of the military is one of her causes.

Following the First Lady’s introduction, the president went off-script as he commented on his wife. Looking out at a sea of military personnel in battle fatigues, Mr. Obama admitted, “I hate following Michelle. She’s so good.”

To the laughter of the service people he added, “See for you men out there who are not yet married, let me explain. The whole goal is to marry up — to try to improve your gene pool.”

Former President George W. Bush often used the “married up” line when publicly praising his wife Laura or the spouses of other leaders but the Obama “gene pool” comment was a first.

Praising his wife’s role to “support and honor our military families,” the president added, “she does all this and she looks cute.”

There was more banter as the Obamas stopped at a roadside farmer’s market in Hampton. Standing near a sign promoting “Pumpkin Patch Open Hayrides,” the couple shopped for seasonal offerings. The president told the market owners, “You know Michelle does a good job promoting produce. She tries to get everyone to eat their vegetables.” Mrs. Obama hefted a gigantic white pumpkin on to a metal cart. The market owner estimated the big gourd weighed 70 pounds.