Ann Romney's Popularity, Welsh Cakes on Fire


Ann Romney talked dancing horses and dancing stars, but not politics, this morning as the wife of GOP nominee Mitt Romney co-hosted "Good Morning America."

Long-called her husband's "secret weapon" for her ability to humanize the often stiff seeming candidate, Romney has become an increasingly popular figure this campaign season. A recent ABC News/ Washington Post poll found her favorability rating jumping 12 points between April and October, making her almost as popular as first lady Michelle Obama.

"After raising five boys, I'm ready for anything that's thrown my way," Romney said of her co-hosting gig, before burning her signature Welsh cake snacks.

"They're burning," she said of the fritters her Welsh grandmother taught her to make and which she routinely makes on the trail.

RECIPE: Ann Romney's Welsh Skillet Cakes

In a following cooking segment with actor Stanley Tucci, a too-hot pan caused another minor cooking disaster.

"My plane almost goes down, now I'm going catch on fire," Romney joked about a fire that broke out on her campaign plane last month.

Romney and "GMA" host George Stephanopolous interviewed Drew Lachey and Helio Castroneves, the recently eliminated celebrities from talent show "Dancing with the Stars."

"How did you like your scoring on the chacha," she asked Lachey.

Romney often speaks about her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis and how she's kept the symptoms in check with horse therapy. A horse she owns, Rafalca, was ridden in this year's London Olympic Games.

On "GMA," para-olympian Becca Hart and her horse Lord Ludger appeared alongside Romney in Times Square to discussthe healing power of horses.

"It is so extraordinary what horses do for us. It's balance, it's joy… We have wounded vets coming home turning to horses for therapy…. Horses are a gift from God and a partner in our life's journey," Romney said.

Wearing a bright red dress reminiscent of the one she wore at the Republican National Convention, Romney did not once mention her husband, nor was she asked anything about the campaign.

An invitation has been extended to first lady Michelle Obama to also guest-host "GMA." She is considering it.

Tune in to ABCNews.com on Thursday for livestreaming coverage of the 2012 Vice Presidential Debate moderated by ABC's Martha Raddatz in Danville, Ky. Coverage kicks off with ABC News' live preview show at noon, and full debate coverage begins at 8 p.m