Could Michelle Obama be a Darkhorse Candidate for the Democrats?: Hillary Clinton paved a track as the former first U.S. First Lady to run for president in her own right. Could Michelle Obama be the next?
Michelle Obama? Would She Run?
With weak support for President Joe Biden among Democrats and questions mounting about his age, Obama could be a dark horse candidate for the Democrats. She remains very popular among Democrats.
“Democrats see Barack Obama’s presidency as a type of modern ‘Camelot,’ the term often used to refer to John F. Kennedy’s presidency, when a young, smart and appealing president and his sophisticated young wife occupied the White House. As one historian has described it, ‘The term Camelot has been used retrospectively to refer to the Kennedy administration, which lasted between January 1961 and November 1963, capturing the charisma of Kennedy and his family,’” Merrill Matthews, resident scholar with the Dallas, Texas-based Institute for Policy Innovation, wrote in The Hill back in March.
“Democrats are nostalgic for the charisma they perceived emanating from Obama and his family, while no one has ever associated charisma with Joe Biden.”
Obama vs. Ron DeSantis?
Democratic political strategist Douglas Schoen wrote in January that Obama would be the only Democrat who could be a match for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who polls well with Independents. DeSantis trails former President Donald Trump by a wide margin.
“None of the other potential 2024 hopefuls on the Democratic side — Gavin Newsom, Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, Gretchen Whitmer and Cory Booker, among others — rise above the rest. Any would be highly vulnerable in a national contest against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is increasingly regarded as the heir apparent of the Republican Party,” Shoen wrote.
He acknowledges that Obama has never publicly expressed an interest in being president herself; however, he thinks she could if it looks like Democrats are in danger of losing. She actively campaigned for Democrats on abortion rights and voting rights, which Democrats see threatened by Conservatives.
Barack Could Help In a Major Way
Former President Barack Obama would be a key strategist for her campaign were she to run, and unlike Hillary Clinton is not viewed as a toxic personality.
The same goes for Vice President Kamala Harris, who lacks strong support and has been panned by Republicans and Democrats alike. Harris generally leads among Democrats as their choice when Biden is not in the picture.
Obama contrasts with Harris again when it comes to likability. Harris is considered as someone who is out of touch and who is not very smart. This is evidenced by the widespread mockery of her even by Left-leaning Daily Show, which compares her with Julia Louis Dreyfus’ character Selina Meyer on the HBO show Veep.
“She has a winner’s aura that could instantly clear the primary field and allow Democrats to focus on the general election. No Democrat would want to contest her if Biden does not run, including the vice president,” Real Clear Politics Contributor Myra Adams wrote. “The mainstream media slobbers over Mrs. Obama. She is articulate, always camera-ready and could boost ratings. Conversely, right-leaning media would characterize her as a raging liberal socialist who, if elected, would destroy our economy and democracy. In other words, the GOP will replay the 2020 Biden/Harris talking points, adding, ‘Had enough, do you want more?’”
From 19FortyFive
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