One often heard the opinion, as recently as a year ago — sometimes as a whisper, sometimes as a boast of savvy opinion or special knowledge, or even daring prophecy — that Michelle Obama was the Democrats’ secret weapon, the most likely next “sure thing” candidate for the presidency.
Is anyone saying it now?
Michelle Obama’s candidacy is off the table. Comb through X — you’ll see almost no one thumping for Mrs. Obama.
Of course, it was never really on. She always denied any interest in it. But that did not prevent the sages of our age from repeating the notion. Until the election, Senator Ted Cruz talked up Michelle Obama as a potential unkillable candidate on his podcast, and historian Brion McClanahan did the same on his.
Now? Crickets.
But what made the savvy sages of our time drop the issue?
There are probably two issues:
I. The general collapse of Democratic Party cultural cachet after the debacle that was the Kamala Harris campaign. The Democrats have great trouble reaching a majority of Americans right now. It is the party’s issues. Michelle Obama would not solve this problem. (Or would she?)
II. The fizzle that was (or at least yawns induced by) “IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson.” It is not doing well on YouTube, and not creating much buzz outside of a narrow fan base. Or so it appears to those outside the fan base. Apple and Spotify say the podcast is a success.
But if success it be, Michelle Obama’s enduring popularity does not seem to be remotely political. This may reflect her own non-political outlook on life.
Almost certainly the lack of Michelle O. buzz has nothing to do with this: