Valerie Jarrett said she thinks the country is ready for a female to helm the White House but a candidate being a woman is not the top priority she’s looking for in a 2020 hopeful.
“I want a candidate who will go out there and earn it,” she said Monday at The Wing, a coworking and event space in Washington, D.C., that promotes female empowerment.
“I don’t really distinguish whether it’s a male candidate or a female candidate. I think our country is ready for a female president but you don’t have to be a female candidate [to care about issues that matter],” the former Obama White House adviser said.
Jarrett said 2020 Democratic presidential candidates can stand out in the crowded field by being authentic and having a clear vision for the country. She also urged the candidates to play nice during the primaries.
“Don’t beat each other up,” she said, arguing that it could handicap the eventual nominee in the general election.
Former first lady Michelle Obama joined the liberal-leaning crowd to take in her close friend’s remarks that come as part of Jarrett’s tour promoting her memoir, Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward.
In a recent interview with BuzzFeed News, Jarrett said she thinks former Vice President Joe Biden would “make a terrific president” but she did not go as far as endorsing him.
“Whoever wins the primary, I will work my butt off to make sure they win the general election,” Jarrett said Monday.
