Hoops coach Dawn Staley urges Michelle Obama's entry into 2024 presidential race
With President Joe Biden's continued presence in the 2024 campaign under increasing uncertainty, suggestions that a somewhat unorthodox replacement should step in continued to gain steam.
As The Hill reports, the list of those hoping that former first lady Michelle Obama will leave private life and enter the electoral fray has grown to include women's basketball coaching legend Dawn Staley, who rhetorically asked Barack Obama if the country could “borrow” his bride for four years.
Staley's plea
Amid ongoing questions about Biden's fitness for office, Staley, the coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's hoops squad, took to X to propose an alternative solution.
“Now please let us borrow @MichelleObama for just 4 short years!” she wrote, directing her words to the former president.
Noting her belief in his suitability for a new role, Staley told Mr. Obama, “First Gentleman is a good look for you!”
As The Hill noted, Staley and Barack Obama encountered one another at last week's anniversary reception marking the 50th year of USA Basketball.
Not only is Staley a standout collegiate coach, she also spent eight years playing in the WNBA on her own accord, also taking home numerous Olympic Gold medals.
Cruz weighs in...again
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz has long predicted that Mrs. Obama would end up on the Democratic ticket in the event of Biden's departure, and he reiterated his belief in such a possibility just days ago, as Newsweek reports.
Speaking to Fox Business' Stuart Varney, Cruz said on Thursday that Democrats are increasingly uneasy about Biden's candidacy, particularly in light of his debate performance against Donald Trump and a series of subsequent embarrassments.
Cruz said of Biden, “I think he's going to be forced out. I put the odds of Biden not being on the ballot in November at about 80%. I think the Democratic Party is freaking out right now...They're terrified that he's going to lose in November. And so now they're willing to dump him.
“And if and when they dump him, I think their replacement nominee will be one of two people: It will either be Michelle Obama, or it will be Kamala Harris,” he went on. “Ten months ago, I predicted they were going to push Joe Biden out and replace him with Michelle Obama. That may still prove to be the case.”
Though Mrs. Obama's spokesperson recently reinforced the notion that the former first lady “will not be running for president,” perhaps Biden's mounting flubs and entreaties from folks like Staley could help change her mind, but that is something that only time will tell.
