This Conservative Political Action Conference held a panel on Thursday to debate whether former first lady Michelle Obama will replace President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee in November.
The three-day marathon of events known as the largest annual gathering of conservative activists began on Thursday with introductory panels on several hot-button issues, including one titled “Cat Fight? Michelle vs. Kamala.”
Breitbart’s Matt Boyle, Townhall’s Kurt Schlichter, and conservative commentators Larry O’Connor and Monica Crowley discussed the theory that the Democratic Party will replace Biden with the former first lady at their nominating convention this summer and what role Vice President Kamala Harris would play if a switch is made.
“This is what I said two years ago when I first put this out there, that we need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario, and Michelle Obama is the worst-case scenario because she poses the most threatening challenge to President Trump,” Crowley said. “They could make the switch, and they could position Michelle as the reluctant candidate who really didn’t want to do this but needs to do it to save her country.”
She added that she asked former President Donald Trump on her show if he was “prepared for all contingencies, including running against Mrs. Obama.” Crowley said Trump responded affirmatively.
Schlichter was unconvinced, telling his fellow panelists: “I just don’t know if it’s Michelle’s for the taking. If she comes out, I think a lot of people are going to be puzzled.”
Crowley faced pushback over calling Obama an “iconic” figure to the country, with the group eventually agreeing the former first lady held that status among suburban women.
The Obamas left the White House seven years ago, and the former first lady remains one of the most popular figures within the Democratic Party, not to mention one of the most famous people on the planet. Despite this, or possibly because of this, she has remained adamant that she would never herself enter the political fray as a candidate for federal office.
Biden said repeatedly on the 2020 campaign trail that Obama was his top pick as a running mate, but that she was unwilling to be considered for the role. Former Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett confirmed as much as poll after poll showed the former first lady being voters’ top choice to join the ticket.
“The reason why I’m being so unequivocal is that there just simply has never been a time when she’s expressed an interest in running for office,” Jarrett said in early 2020. “She’s not demurring here. She’s not being hard to get. She doesn’t want the job.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Obama herself has repeatedly addressed the public desire for her to get involved in politics, consistently expressing disinterest in the notion.
“The reason why I don’t want to run for president,” Obama said during a 2018 speech. “But my sense is that, first of all, you have to want the job. I’ve never had the passion for politics. I just happened to be married to somebody who has the passion for politics, and he drug me kicking and screaming into the arena.”
Christian Datoc contributed to this report.
