After President Joe Biden’s exit from the 2024 re-election race, an online surge of support proposes Michelle Obama as a possible Democratic contender to go up against former President Donald Trump. The ex-First Lady, admired for her composure and articulation during her tenure from 2009 to 2017, is now seen by many as the only individual capable of unifying the party and defeating Trump.

Biden, 81, publicized his decision to withdraw through a heartfelt letter posted on social media. “While my plan was to seek re-election, I now believe that stepping down and focusing on my presidential duties for the rest of my term is in the best interest of both my party and the country,” he wrote. Despite endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor, the calls for Michelle Obama to join the race continue to grow.

Entrepreneur Steven Bartlett expressed his support for her candidacy on social media: “At this point, only Michelle can beat Trump. That is a fact.” His sentiment echoes the views of many who believe that Obama’s high popularity and voter appeal make her a formidable opponent.

Adding to the supportive voices, Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota stated, “Michelle Obama might be the only individual capable of uniting the party and giving it a significant boost due to her well-known popularity.” Social media platforms are flooded with pleas for Obama to run, asserting that she alone can ensure a Democratic victory.

One social media user appealed, “Michelle Obama… your country needs you… PLEASE enter the presidential race… you can beat him, and just like your husband was the first Black president, you can be the first Black woman president… a true power couple.” Another user posted, “Michelle Obama is the only one who’ll defeat Trump.”

However, Michelle Obama has consistently signaled her lack of interest in pursuing a political career. In several public statements, she has noted that “Politics is hard” and that it isn’t “in [her] soul” to run for office. Her office recently reiterated this position, stating she will not run for president in 2024.

Despite this, recent political shifts, including Biden’s endorsement of Harris and his decision to step down, have sparked speculation about a possible Obama candidacy. Biden’s unexpected endorsement of Harris, announced just moments before the public found out, took many by surprise.

After Biden’s announcement, Barack Obama expressed his and Michelle’s “love and gratitude” to Biden and his wife Jill for their leadership. However, he did not comment on Michelle’s potential candidacy. This silence has not discouraged her supporters, who firmly believe she represents the best chance for the Democratic Party.

The online betting market has also responded to these developments. According to data from the prediction market platform Polymarket, bettors now believe that Obama has an 11% chance of replacing Biden as the Democratic nominee, making her the second favorite after Kamala Harris. This increase in betting odds mirrors the public’s demand for a strong, unifying candidate capable of invigorating the party and defeating Trump.

In a poll conducted by Noble Predictive Insights, 24% of Democrat-leaning likely voters favored Michelle Obama over any other candidate. Biden followed with 20%, with other potential candidates lagging behind. This result suggests a powerful base of support for Obama within the Democratic voter pool.

Even though Michelle Obama has given no indications of entering the race, the calls for her candidacy underscore the Democratic Party’s quest for a unifying candidate who can present a solid challenge to Donald Trump.

On July 25, Barack and Michelle Obama announced their support for Kamala Harris.