By A recent poll released on Wednesday reveals that former First Lady Michelle Obama is the only Democratic candidate with a decisive lead over Donald Trump in a hypothetical November contest. According to the poll, 50% of respondents would vote for Obama, while 39% would support Trump, with the rest undecided or choosing not to vote.
The poll also indicates a 40%-40% tie between President Joe Biden and Trump, following Biden’s poor performance in a recent debate against the former president. Other potential Democratic candidates lag behind Trump: Vice President Kamala Harris trails at 43%-42%, California Governor Gavin Newsom at 42%-39%, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer at 41%-36%.
However, the likelihood of Michelle Obama entering the race remains slim, as she has repeatedly ruled out running for office. In a statement to NBC News in March, her communications director reaffirmed, “As former First Lady Michelle Obama has expressed several times over the years, she will not be running for president. Mrs. Obama supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ re-election campaign.”
This statement followed speculation that she could replace Biden as the Democratic candidate. Michelle Obama, who advocates for causes such as healthy eating and gender equality, has long been one of the most popular political figures in the U.S. In 2020, Biden mentioned he would choose her as his running mate “in a heartbeat” if she decided to stand.
Obama campaigned for Biden in 2020, delivering the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, where she warned of the dangers of a second Trump term. While she has maintained a lower profile during this year’s election, she was expected to campaign for Biden in the final stretch.
Former President Barack Obama continues to support Biden despite the shaky debate performance but has privately acknowledged that Biden’s path to reelection has become more challenging following the debate.
