Should Michelle Obama be Biden's running mate? Experts say she is popular and a 'very effective choice'
The presumptive 2020 Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, is on a hunt to find his running mate, and reports state that the Democratic frontrunner and several party insiders want the former First Lady Michelle Obama to run with him. Although Obama, till now, has not expressed a desire to run for a political position, experts believe that her involvement could boost Biden's chances of winning the 2020 presidential elections.
Biden, who has vowed to pick a female vice-presidential candidate, is expected to name a committee next week to vet his potential running mates. The former Vice President is reportedly considering Senators Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Amy Klobuchar as prime candidates for his prospective VP, however, if Obama agrees to run with him, she would be Biden's most viable option.
"Michelle Obama has shown no interest in elective office but she would be a very effective choice if she were willing," Dr Stephen J Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science, University of Mary Washington told MEA Worldwide. "She was very popular with the public and was an effective campaigner on behalf of her husband," he said referring to former President Barack Obama's successful two terms.
Biden, during a campaign trail earlier this year had also expressed a desire to work with Obama as his running mate. "I sure would like Michelle to be the vice president," he had said. This was not the first time the Democrat called on the former first lady, who continues to be immensely popular with voters, to serve as his vice president. Biden, during an appearance on 'The Late Show' in September 2019, was asked by host Stephen Colbert questioned Biden as to whether he has “asked Michelle Obama for advice." The Democrat responded with, "Only to be my vice president."
It appears that Democrat voters also want Michelle Obama to run for office. A poll conducted by Stanford’s Hoover Institution last month questioned 1,507 registered voters in California on whom they would want as their vice-presidential nominee. The voters expressed a desire for a woman nominee, with Michelle Obama being the top choice. At least 31 percent of respondents supporter the former first lady, while 19 percent of them backed California's Senator Kamala Harris.
Minnesota’s Senator Amy Klobuchar was third, at 18 percent, and former Georgia state legislator Stacy Abrams was fourth, at 13 percent.
Shortly after Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders made a surprise endorsement of Biden on Monday, April 13, the focus has turned to the former Vice President's running mate, and according to gambling markets charted by Oddschecker.com, there was an increase in support for Obama. “Michelle Obama has been the most backed person in the market, accounting for almost 32% of all bets," the firm in a statement said.
However, some experts believe that if Michelle Obama does not agree to contest as Biden's Vice President, he should go with Senator Elizabeth Warren as his running mate. "I would say Elizabeth Warren would be a better choice," Dr Farnsworth added.
"She can win over the disappointed Sanders supporters and has demonstrated extraordinary policy savvy," he added.
Biden is expected to announce his running mate well before the Democratic convention in August.