One of former President Barack Obama’s advisers poured cold water on the possibility that Michelle Obama could be presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s running mate.
Jarrett, who is a close friend of the Obama family, told the Hill on Tuesday that the former first lady has no political aspirations.
“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. “She’s not demurring here. She’s not being hard to get. She doesn’t want the job.”
Biden, 76, has vowed to choose a woman for the No. 2 spot on this year’s presidential ticket, which has spurred speculation about who he will choose. Biden has said he would take Michelle Obama “in a heartbeat,” but Jarrett said those remarks don’t matter.
“Of course, he would take her. That’s not the question,” she explained. “The question is, is this the way in which she wants to continue her life of service?”
“There is a difference between being a public servant and being a politician, and she has no interest in being a politician,” Jarrett continued. “Her husband was interested in being both. She’s only interested in the service component.”
In recent years, the former first lady has been working with celebrities on a voter registration initiative called When We All Vote.
