Amid poll numbers showing former President Donald Trump leading President Joe Biden in the 2024 race for the White House, many Democrats have considered first lady Michelle Obama to be a possible alternative for their party's nomination.
However, Michelle Obama's office told NBC News that the former first lady "will not be running for president" this year.
"As former First Lady Michelle Obama has expressed several times over the years, she will not be running for president," Crystal Carson, director of communications for Obama's office, told NBC News in a statement reported Tuesday.
"Mrs. Obama supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' re-election campaign."
With many liberals holding former President Barack Obama and wife Michelle Obama in high regard, the former first lady's possible candidacy has been a popular topic for people on both the right and left.
A recent Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) straw poll found that 56% of respondents said Biden will not be the next candidate on the Democrat ticket and 47% said Michelle Obama will be.
In September, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, predicted "the Democrat kingmakers [will] jettison Joe Biden and parachute in Michelle Obama" at the Democratic convention in August.
Since then, Biden's poll numbers have continued to drop.
The Wall Street Journal in December reported that Barack Obama "feels that Democrats very well could lose" the 2024 election, and regardless, he "knows this is going to be a close race."
The latest CBS News/YouGov poll showed Trump with a 4-point lead over the 81-year-old Biden in a hypothetical general election matchup. Each man is the front-runner for his respective party's presidential nomination.
Biden has been facing "heavy fire," according to NBC News, over his age, the economy, and his immigration and foreign policies.
There's also the House investigation into the president's alleged influence peddling role in his family's foreign business dealings.
All that has made Michelle Obama a favorite figure among people contemplating Biden being replaced on the Democratic Party's ticket.
However, sources told NBC News that Michelle Obama instead intends to assist the Biden campaign. In fact, she likely will be fairly limited compared to her husband.
The former first lady, who has had a reluctance to reenter the political fray full time, will focus on other commitments, according to NBC News sources.
Biden's campaign is expected to use Michelle Obama to appeal to swing state voters late in the campaign.
"President and Michelle Obama were enormously helpful in the fight to beat Donald Trump and elect President Biden and Vice President Harris the first time and we are grateful to have their voice and their support in the fight for the fate of our democracy this November," Biden campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz said in a statement, NBC News reported.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.