First lady Michelle Obama likely won’t try to run for senate in California, according to a report.
Last week, Orb magazine published an interview saying that after President Obama’s term ends, the two will possibly move to California and Michelle will attempt to make a senate bid for longtime Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat.
But a report on Wednesday is saying otherwise.
According to a former Michelle Obama aide, Kristina Schake, the first lady “is as likely to put her name in contention to be the next pope as she is to run for political office,” reported Politico.
In the Orb report, Obama “is being urged, nay IMPLORED, by her husband’s supporters to move to California and run for the U.S. Senate seat that will become open” if Feinstein, who is 81, steps down after her term ends in 2018, when she'll be 85.
Meanwhile, CNN interviewed Feinstein on Sunday, and the longtime senator said the development is unlikely.
“I’m flattered if that should be true,” Feinstein said. “Somehow I do not believe it is true. But I would be flattered if it were.” Feinstein hasn’t even decided if she‘ll run again, saying Sunday that she has “no idea” if she’ll try for a fourth full term in 2018.
Meanwhile, Politico reported that people close to Obama don’t know her plans.
“The first lady will be active but not in the United States Senate!,” emailed Anita Dunn, a former White House communications director said. “The first lady is not running for office,” another source said.
A few months ago, President Obama said his wife won’t run for office. “One thing I can promise you is that Michelle will not run for office,” he said, per the Washington Times.
And on Tuesday, Obama may have inadvertently said that Michelle no longer works.
“And this is not just a women’s issue — this is a family issue. I tell you, when Michelle was working, I wanted to make sure she was getting paid. (Laughter and applause.),” reads a transcript. “And by the way, I mean, I should point out, she is working really hard now as First Lady and doesn’t get paid but that’s a whole other thing. (Laughter.) But — because I didn’t want her to think, like, what, I’m not working? (Laughter.) Michelle works. I promise you. (Applause.)”
