Michelle Obama will continue a life of public service in her home state of Illinois if one political operative has his way, the National Journal reported.
A former top aide to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel told the Journal he "would encourage her and put pressure on her" to run for public office.
"There is no person in politics that I think Democrats, independents, and Republicans would love to see take on public service more than the first lady," Thomas Bowen told the Journal. "We would encourage her and put pressure on her."
Though saying she is not interested in running for office, Obama's star is on the rise again while stumping for Hillary Clinton and at the Democratic National Convention.
"Her impact on the race is pretty significant and likely to be enduring for the next several weeks," Bill Burton, a former White House deputy press secretary for President Obama told the Journal. "She's really talented."
Options for a Michelle Obama candidacy in Illinois?
- 2018: Gov. Bruce Rauner up for reelection
- 2019: Emanuel's second term up as mayor
- 2020: Sen. Dick Durbin up for reelection
"Obviously she'd be qualified to run for just about any office up and down the ticket, but I think she has consistently talked about not having any interest in political office," Steve Brown, spokesman for the Illinois Democratic party told the Journal.
But, as Bowen told the Journal: "We will wait faithfully for her."
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