By Raul Castillo
05 Mar 2024, 18:21 PM EST
While Republicans and some Democrats expect former first lady Michelle Obama to announce an eventual presidential candidacy, the former first lady’s office put an end to the rumors and announced that she will not run for president of the United States in 2024.
“As former first lady Michelle Obama has expressed several times over the years, she will not be running for president,” Crystal Carson, communications director for her office, told NBC News. “Mrs. Obama supports the re-election campaign of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.”
Likewise, sources close to her told NBC News that she intends to participate in Biden’s campaign, as she did in 2020. However, her participation will be less than that of her husband, former President Barack Obama.
The expectation of the Biden campaign, for its part, is that the former first lady will have a more prominent role closer to the election date, when more undecided voters will pay attention to the race, the outlet said, citing sources.
“The President and Michelle Obama were a tremendous help in the fight to defeat Donald Trump and elect President Biden and Vice President Harris for the first time, and we are grateful to have their voice and support in the fight for the fate of our democracy.” this November,” Biden campaign spokesperson Kevin Muñoz said in a statement shared by the outlet.
Republicans increase rumors
Rumors that Michelle Obama could be a candidate have been, to a large extent, fueled by Republicans, who take the opportunity to question President Biden’s ability to run again.
One of the main promoters of the theory has been former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. According to NBC News, the businessman said at least 20 times during his campaign about the possibility of Michelle’s candidacy if he won the primary.
“It’s going to be a new puppet, Gavin Newsom, Michelle Obama, whatever,” Ramaswamy said.
Worried about the elections
Until now Michelle Obama has stayed out of the spotlight. Earlier this year, the former first lady said she was “terrified of what could happen” in the 2024 elections.
“Because our leaders matter. Who we select, who speaks for us, who occupies that pulpit, affects us in ways that sometimes I think people take for granted,” the former first lady expanded on Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast.
“The fact that people think that the government really does anything? And I was like, ‘Oh my God, does the government do everything for us?’ And we cannot take this democracy for granted. And sometimes I worry that this is the case,” he added.
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