Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential election has thrown the race wide open.
Besides Kamala Harris, it isn’t yet known for certain who will throw their hat in the ring to become the new Democrat nominee.
A Challenging Campaign
Whoever does become the new presidential candidate will have a tough campaign.
They will have to win the support of the Democratic party, and then they will have to win the support of voters in only four months before November’s election.
Harris the Obvious Choice
Kamala Harris is the most obvious choice as the new Democratic candidate.
She is politically experienced, has the endorsement of Biden, her face and name is known by most people and she has immediate access to the campaign funds as she was already Biden’s running mate. Any other nominee would have to raise funds on top of conducting a swift campaign.
What the Polls Say
According to a poll conducted by Reuters/Ipsos in early July, she is not in fact more popular than Trump.
But someone else is, and that someone is Michelle Obama. Could the fight for Democratic candidacy become a race between two inspirational women?
What the Numbers Say
It isn’t only in the US that polls say Michelle Obama could beat Trump.
In a poll conducted by The Telegraph in the UK, Michelle Obama got 63% of the vote.
Cause of Popularity
Obama’s popularity may be attributed to several factors.
She is known internationally as well as across America. She has written inspirational books and is a wholesome role model for women and young people everywhere. And she has had more time than Harris to build up her presence in the global consciousness.
She Will Not Run
Michelle Obama herself, however, has remained steadfast in saying she will not stand as a candidate in any presidential race.
In a Netflix special with Oprah Winfrey, Obama said: “Politics is hard. And the people who get into it… you’ve got to want it. It’s got to be in your soul, because it is so important. It is not in my soul.”
Other Disadvantages
Besides the fact that Obama has stated clearly that she will not run for president, if it were to happen, there would be other obstacles.
One is her lack of political experience as she has never governed, even at a local level. Another would be her former status as First Lady – some would think Barack Obama was governing from the sidelines.
What Her Popularity Could Mean
With Michelle Obama being such a popular and inspirational figure across the globe, her influence may not be off the cards in this election, however.
Any candidate who was endorsed by Obama would be likely to have a rise in popularity themselves as a result. This is possibly one of the reasons that Obama has stayed quiet so far during the 2024 election campaign.
Likelihood of Kamala Harris Winning
In the same poll in which Obama was shown to be more popular than Trump, Kamala Harris was also rated.
It was a close run thing, but Kamala Harris came out at 42%, with Trump at 43%. 7% would vote ‘other’ and 6% wouldn’t vote at all.
