[img_assist|nid=2198|title=Gov. Janet Napolitano|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=71|height=100]Gov. Janet Napolitano expects to be appearing on the campaign trail and in the media on behalf of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, according to Napolitano spokeswoman Jeanine L'Ecuyer.

'We fully expect the governor to be travelling and doing a whole lot of media on behalf of Senator Obama," L'Ecuyer told PolitickerAZ.com Friday.

Napolitano was an early supporter of the junior senator from Illinois, and with the choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the running mate of U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Phoenix), female surrogates for Obama - particularly female governors - are expected to have an increased role in the campaign.

According to a story in the New York Times on Thursday, "Obama aides said they were counting on not only Mrs. Clinton but also Democratic female governors to rebut Ms. Palin — and, by extension, Mr. McCain. Those governors include Janet Napolitano of Arizona and Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas."

As of yet, though, there are no firm plans as to when or where Napolitano will be deployed on Obama's behalf.

"The status is evolving," said L'Ecuyer. "The Obama team is extraordinarily flexible, and they inform us of plans close to executing them. We don't get a whole lot of lead time."