Cheney and Obama are distant relatives, Mrs. Cheney says

Surprisingly, the vice president's wife Lynne Cheney found out that her husband Dick Cheney and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama are distant cousins.

Mrs. Cheney discovered the amazing link between her husband and his political opposite while researching family history for her new book "Blue Skies, No Fences," on her life in Wyoming where she grew up.

She said that her husband and Barack Obama have a common ancestor - a 17th century immigrant from France.

Mrs. Cheney reported that it was "an amazing American story that one ancestor ... could be responsible down the family line for lives that have taken such different and varied paths.

The two politicians are known to be opposed on many issues including those regarding the war in Iraq which is supported by Dick Cheney and discouraged by Barack Obama.