Amid swirling speculation about potential Democratic contenders for the 2024 presidential election, former President Donald Trump has dismissed the idea of facing Michelle Obama, expressing confidence in his ability to defeat any opponent the Democrats might field. This response comes after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek re-election, opening the door for a new Democratic nominee.
Trump's reaction to the possibility of Michelle Obama running for president was captured during an interview on Fox News' "Jesse Watters Primetime." When asked about facing potential Democratic candidates like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, California Governor Gavin Newsom, or former First Lady Michelle Obama, Trump said, "I wouldn't be worried about any of them. Look, they have bad policies-forget about the people. They have an open-border policy, they have a high-tax policy, they have a bad military policy. The whole world is going woke-their world is going woke."
He continued, "The whole thing is a mess. If we don't win this election, we may never have another election. I'm telling you, this may be our last election."
Speculation about Michelle Obama's candidacy has been fueled by her husband, former President Barack Obama's decision not to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris following Biden's withdrawal. In his statement, Obama praised Biden but stopped short of backing Harris, saying, "We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead. But I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges."
This lack of endorsement has led some to believe that Michelle Obama might be considering a run. Despite her repeated statements indicating no interest in pursuing political office, including during a Netflix special with Oprah Winfrey where she said, "Politics is hard. And the people who get into it... you've got to want it. It's got to be in your soul because it is so important. It is not in my soul," her name continues to surface as a potential candidate who could unite the Democratic Party and challenge Trump effectively.
Republican Senator Kevin Cramer from North Dakota expressed a sentiment shared by many in his party, telling New York Magazine, "Michelle Obama would probably be the one person that could step in and keep the party united and probably provide a little bit of a moving start because of her obvious notoriety."
Michelle Obama attacked U.S. President Donald Trump's handling of the coronavirus and his leadership style.
Polling data supports the notion that Michelle Obama could be a formidable opponent. According to an Ipsos poll, she is the only hypothetical Democratic candidate who consistently beats Trump in head-to-head matchups. "In hypothetical matchups with Democratic candidates other than Biden, former first lady Michelle Obama is the only hypothetical candidate to definitively defeat Trump in this poll," the report stated. Ben Page, CEO of Ipsos Mori, added, "On the data we have, Michelle Obama is the slam-dunk option for the Democrats if she is available."
However, significant obstacles remain for an Obama candidacy. A former Biden aide told The Telegraph, "It's improbable but it's not impossible that Michelle Obama will run for president. She has previously made it crystal clear she doesn't want the job but it was striking how Barack Obama did not support Harris ... so it seems they're adopting a wait-and-see approach to gauge the inevitability of the vice president's bid."
Despite the enthusiasm among some Democrats for a Michelle Obama candidacy, her lack of firsthand political experience and her consistent statements against running pose challenges. Dr. Thomas Gift, an associate professor at UCL, noted, "Only in the dreams of progressives does a nominee like Michelle, with no firsthand experience running for office and who's displayed no interest in following in her husband's footsteps become the Democratic party's nominee for the White House."
While the Democratic establishment appears to be coalescing around Harris, the question of who can best challenge Trump remains open. Harris has received significant support, including more than $50 million in grassroots donations since Biden's endorsement. However, concerns about her polarizing nature persist. According to a recent Economist/YouGov poll, both Harris and Biden trail Trump by narrow margins, with Harris slightly behind.
