Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump trails just one Democrat in a hypothetical matchup, according to a new poll: former first lady Michelle Obama, who has repeatedly said she’s not interested in running for president in 2024.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll that came out this week shows Trump tied with President Joe Biden and ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, The Hill reported. But the one person he’s far behind? Michelle Obama, who isn’t even running.
Michelle Obama topped Trump by 11 points in the poll, pulling in 50% to Trump’s 39%. Trump is tied with Biden at 40%, beats Harris by one point, and leads Newsom and Whitmer by three and five points, respectively.
This poll of 1,070 U.S. adults was done right after Biden’s cringeworthy debate performance, which led some Democrats and liberal commentators to suggest Biden should step aside and let someone else take on Trump.
Despite all the chatter, Michelle Obama has made it clear she’s not interested in running. Earlier this year, she told NBC News she’s all in for Biden’s re-election bid. “As former First Lady Michelle Obama has said many times, she will not be running for president,” her communications director reiterated in March. “Mrs. Obama supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ re-election campaign.”
Meanwhile, Biden and his family are adamant he’s staying in the race. Top Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and potential Biden replacements like Newsom, Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, have all publicly backed Biden’s re-election campaign.
Trump, never one to shy away from a jab, ripped into Biden after the debate, calling the 81-year-old president a “broken down pile of crap” and hinting that Biden might be quitting the race. “I got him out of the — and that means we have Kamala,” Trump said. “I think she’s going to be better — she’s so bad. She’s so pathetic. She’s so f***ing bad.”
In the never-ending soap opera of American politics, this poll adds another twist. The idea that Michelle Obama, who isn’t even running, could easily beat Trump is both a nod to her popularity and a sign of how crazy things are right now.
