Michelle Obama: Would She Run for the White House? Earlier this month, while speaking to conservative radio talk show host Buck Sexton, Fox News Channel’s Tucker Carlson suggested that efforts are now underway to push President Joe Biden aside. Carlson responded, “I think this is to make way for Michelle. Just my view. Not provable. We’ll see.”
(Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel Here. 19FortyFive publishes original videos every day.)
Michelle Obama for President?
Carlson and Sexton are far from the first to suggest that the former first lady could be a viable candidate in 2024.
In fact, in November 2021, a Hill-HarrixX poll showed that Vice President Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama were ahead of other possible candidates, notably Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
However, some context is needed.
Harris, who maintains a lower approval rating than Biden, was the choice of 13 percent of respondents to the poll, while Obama had 10 percent.
Those are hardly massive numbers, to say the least.
Moreover, this was a hypothetical poll only, so no doubt if Oprah Winfrey’s name was on the list she might have secured as much support as the other two – and perhaps even more.
Talks Continue
It was also just a year ago that RealClearPolitics contributor and former GOP presidential campaign advisor Myra Adams offered an op-ed for TheHill.com that Mrs. Obama could be the Democrat’s best option should Biden not run.
Adams cited a survey from YouGov that found that Michelle Obama topped the list of the world’s most admired women for 2021 – well above Harris or former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Adams further noted that Obama has “rock star” status, much like her husband, former President Barack Obama had in 2008, and even Donald Trump had in 2016.
A Baseless Rumor?
Also, a year ago, Salon.com reported that Republicans were raising money off what has been described as a “baseless rumor” that Michelle Obama would run for president.
It apparently has little basis in reality – just as there is little basis to suggest that Oprah Winfrey would run either.
In a 2018 speech at the 39th annual Simmons Leadership Conference in Boston, Obama said, “The reason why I don’t want to run for president — and I can’t speak for Oprah — but my sense is that, first of all, you have to want the job.”
It is clear Mrs. Obama doesn’t want the job, but as anyone who has read her books – or watched the Showtime original series The First Ladies – likely knows, she actually didn’t want her husband to be president either.
“I’ve never had the passion for politics. I just happened to be married to somebody who has the passion for politics, and he drug me kicking and screaming into the arena,” Mrs. Obama added.
That hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from working overtime.
“I really believe if Michelle Obama runs, she wins,” comedian Joe Rogan suggested on his popular podcast. “She’s great, she’s intelligent, she’s articulate, she’s the wife of the best president that we have had in our lifetime in terms of, like, a representative of intelligent, articulate people.”
While some Republicans would certainly debate Rogan’s take on the issue, it isn’t crystal clear that she could even win.
It is true that charismatic individuals have an advantage in American politics. John F. Kennedy narrowly defeated Richard Nixon by his use of charm and charisma – but politics is about more today, or we should at least hope it is.
What Experience?
Simply put, former First Lady Hillary Clinton was already an experienced lawyer, but she knew that she’d need actual government experience to be considered a viable presidential candidate.
She was successfully elected to the United States Senate before launching a White House bid.
Later she served as secretary of state under President Obama, who had defeated her in the 2008 Democratic primaries.
Mrs. Obama lacks such political experience.
Charisma goes a long way, but it is a substitute for experience. It is true that Donald Trump lacked political experience, but he appealed to a completely different base of voters and ran on his business success. Obama would be forced to run on her popularity, and that might not be enough to win moderate voters.
Yet, the most crucial consideration is that, as she said in 2018, you must want the job.
It doesn’t really seem like much has changed.
Whereas Hillary Clinton likely wanted the job even while husband Bill occupied the Oval Office, and by all accounts, felt it was owed to her, Michelle Obama is as likely to be happy to have that part of her life behind her.
More: Should Joe Biden Quit?
More: How to Save Joe Biden?
More: Nikki Haley for President? Nope.
Author Experience and Expertise: A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
froike
January 26, 2023 at 11:53 am
I’m sure Iron Mike would do at least as good of a job as POTUS as Biden. Then again, so would a can of Beer.
White, Michael L
January 28, 2023 at 12:35 pm
My name is Michael White, and I am a 76-year-old retiree and I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 58 years. Together we have four children, all in their 50’s now. All well advanced in their careers and the parents of our 13 grandchildren and grandparents to two great grandchildren. I have no political experience whatsoever, apart from more years of observation than most.
I found this article interesting and somewhat compelling, so I wanted to offer an opinion. During my 40-year career in a fortune 500 setting I was in mid-level management positions and if I learned anything about leadership it was that effective leaders are quickly rendered obsolete without a strong following. Michelle Obama is clearly a dynamic personality, with an uncanny ability to inspire.
In selecting a leader, I always started with someone that had demonstrated the ability to inspire others. I also looked for people who possessed high moral character, and values. The candidates considered were steeped in common sense, intelligence, and were able to articulate the scope of the position.
Michelle Obama has demonstrated proficiency in all of the above surpassing my expectations. With respect to her lack of political knowledge I would have to ask your readers if they thought a highly intelligent attorney, wife of a US Senator, and 8-years as a First Lady might be seen by most as the ultimate internship.
Cordially,
Mike
Ronald r Toussaint
January 28, 2023 at 1:43 pm
in an honest election Idont see a single Democrat that could win the white house in this next election. However the republicans, if they really want the white house they wiil have to get off their butts and come together like the dems do.— .
Ronald E Elliott
January 29, 2023 at 7:13 am
Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.
John Zeigler
January 29, 2023 at 10:33 am
Are we to go from the divider in chief, to the Mrs. divider in chief? Eight years of the Obama administration divided our Country by labeling heritage, political ideology and race factors. The solution is not the focus of what is bad as the Obama analysis and leadership constantly advocated, but rather the good of the American spirit. Nowhere in the World are people more cognizant of human rights and equality than in the USA. It is a statistical fact that President Trump was able to raise the equality of job creation and income equality more than any President before him and since. When will the leadership help the “good” side of the ledger organize as much as forces like George Soros and The FBI and CIA and big tech pays out to cause evil and discord? We need a good solid economy and fair job access. We need leadership and we need to control immigration. Drugs like Fentanyl are killing 100,000 Americans a year. We need the basics back.
mary flynn
January 29, 2023 at 7:24 pm
Why wasn’t LGB Biden homes raided like President Trump? Ohhhh I forgot the AG/FBI always give the DemocRATS a pass. We have a sitting President the has broken our laws, a national security risk. In our constitution what he did is treason. I bet the “big guy” got a kickback rise to 30% replacing the 10%. The Democrats, Rinos, house of cards are slowing collapsing. Pay back from America & Americans.
Wick Humble
January 29, 2023 at 11:42 pm
Michelle, smart, and as attractive as Diana Ross and the Supremes! Got my vote, vs. so many of the establishment clown car!
docko33
January 30, 2023 at 9:34 pm
OH, PLEASE, PLEASE RUN MICHELLE FOR PRESIDENT…PLEASE!!
THAT WOULD FINISH THE LIBERAL (COMMIES) DEMOCRAT PARTY, ONCE AND FOR ALL TIME AND RESTORE SOME SANITY BACK IN AMERICAN POLITICS. THERE HAS TO BE A WOMAN MARINE, EQUIVALENT TO LEE HARVEY OSWALD, SOMEWHERE, TO PUT THE END TO THE OBAMAETTE DYNASTY.
Eddie L Farris
February 1, 2023 at 12:23 am
We live in a time and place where anything is possible, and I agree with an earlier couple of posts that Michelle Obama is a very intelligent woman, and she seems to really have compassion and love for our younger generation She is a great communicator and knows when and how to articulate an important message or point. The thing that I give the Obama administration high marks on is the fact that there seemed to be little to NO scandals or unacceptable behaviors in regard to cabinet members and administration officials. The second thing is that both of the Obamas showed a great amount of humility, and our country seems to be lacking that over the last 7 years or so, we would be much respected and keep our heads on straight with more “humility” because that will always set a good precedence for our children. Ms. Obama is qualified in many ways for the Executive office. Vice President Harris is also very qualified. These women are constantly bashed only because they are female!
Basket Case
February 1, 2023 at 3:48 pm
If MRS Obama were elected, She will start a race war as her husband did while in office.
Bob Garland
February 2, 2023 at 9:22 am
Back in 2008 when the Obamas were campaigning in Iowa Michelle gave a speech that I listened to on the radio. She spoke of how much the American people must sacrifice and become accustomed with less and less. This woman is a hard-core fanatic preaching dictatorial socialism. She would be even worse than Biden.
MAX BAX
February 2, 2023 at 6:30 pm
Good god, her husband had all but destroyed our country and left it divided, BUT old horse face here is anti-American as it gets and she showed it while her husband destroyed us. The only job she is fit for is cleaning dog schite off the sidewalk.
Jack Imhoff
February 2, 2023 at 6:40 pm
I think the Democrats don’t have a single viable person to beat DeSantis. Trump will fail early and Biden will get kicked to the curb by his handlers. Michelle, Joe, Kamala, Newsom? All failures or unqualified. They’ll go after DeSantis as a racist or sexist like they always do, but he’ll probably win. Maybe Hillary will roll back out and Billy can get some interns before Hilldog sucks the last life out of him.
Bill
February 2, 2023 at 9:48 pm
First trans president, why not.