The Democrats’ 2020 presidential field is going to be wide-open.
And one top Democrat is urging Michelle Obama to run.
But following his advice could mean the devastating end of Michelle Obama’s career.
Douglas Schoen was a former Clinton pollster and current Fox News contributor.
He recently authored an op-ed where he claimed Michelle Obama was the strongest candidate to take on Donald Trump in 2020 because of her high popularity ratings.
Schoen wrote in The Hill:
“As I’ve said before, the Democrats need an alternative plan to rebuild and unite the party if they have any hope in winning back seats in Congress in the 2018 midterms, nonetheless the White House in 2020.
This alternative plan requires a new, united opposition, led by a political leader with widespread popularity.
The only person I can see accomplishing this would be none other than the party’s most popular political figure: Michelle Obama.
Let me be clear: This is not an endorsement. I have been, and still am, critical of Barack Obama’s presidency. Michelle Obama would not be my candidate, and I do not agree with many of the positions I believe she would advance. But as an analyst, Michelle Obama is clearly the Democrats’ best chance to reunite the party and win back the White House in 2020.
Michelle Obama is perceived as a strong, well-qualified leader with immense national popularity. Broadly, the polls show she is respected by the American people and by the near-entirety of the Democratic Party.
Although Michelle Obama has stated that she is not interested in a presidential bid, her appeal and support for her husband remain robust.
According to the January 2017 USA Today/Gallup poll, Michelle Obama left the White House with a 68 percent favorability rating, compared with 58 percent for President Obama and 61 percent for Vice President Biden.
While it is common for first ladies to be more favored than their husbands, Michelle Obama’s favorability is substantially higher than Hillary Clinton’s rating of 56 percent from 2000 when she and President Clinton left the White House. “
Schoen pointed out Hillary Clinton ended her time as First Lady with a 56 percent approval rating – high favorable ratings are not unusual for women in that position – but that other polls claimed a majority of Americans wanted a return to the days of Barack Obama.
Since he is constitutionally forbidden from running, his wife could pick up the mantle of an Obama restoration.
There is just one problem.
The second Michelle Obama entered the political fray her numbers would plummet.
Hillary Clinton enjoyed favorable ratings in the 60 percent range when she was Obama’s Secretary of State.
That’s because many Americans viewed the job as nonpolitical.
Once she declared she was running for President her numbers flipped.
Michelle Obama would face the same problem.
All the Republicans and Republican leaning independents who approve of her – and inflate her favorability numbers to over 60 percent – would abandon her the second she announced herself to be Trump’s opponent.
The appeal of her candidacy is a mirage.
If the American people truly wanted a third Obama term they would have voted for Hillary Clinton.
That was the platform she campaigned on.
Michelle Obama has repeatedly stated she has zero desire to ever run for office.
She would be wise to stick to her guns and ignore the pundits begging her to run.
