Dems could discard Biden for Michelle Obama in 2024, Ted Cruz claims
Former first lady Michelle Obama could be “parachuted in” at the Democratic National Convention next year and be named the party’s nominee for president in place of Joe Biden, according to Sen. Ted Cruz.
The Texas Republican made the unfounded claim on his “Verdict with Ted Cruz” podcast earlier this week, where he discussed multiple ways that Democrats concerned with Biden’s mental acuity might try to keep the 80-year-old president off the 2024 ticket.
“So here’s the scenario that I think is perhaps the most likely and most dangerous,” Cruz said. “In August of 2024, the Democrat kingmakers jettison Joe Biden and parachute in Michelle Obama.”
“I view this as a very serious danger,” he added.
The senator noted that the August 2024 DNC convention will be held in Chicago — Obama’s hometown — and argued that it is the perfect “opportunity to parachute someone in” to replace Biden.
Cruz was unsure of how the party would be able to force the president from seeking re-election, but suggested that superdelegates — unpledged Democratic delegates who are free to support the presidential candidate of their choosing — might play a role.
He also explored another scenario that he believes could play out, but is less likely, in which the “powers that be in the Democratic Party” convince Biden to not run in the next 60 days, opening the door to as many as 10 candidates to fight for the nomination in the primaries.
“If that happens, I think it’s a free-for-all all,” Cruz said, naming Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) as likely candidates in that scenario.
“I believe Elizabeth Warren wins that primary,” he said.
Cruz argued, however, that coronating Obama at the convention would stave off infighting within the party and be the solution that “unifies Democrats.”
“Michelle Obama, because she was first lady, has the ability to kind of parachute in above all four and say, ‘Hey we’re not picking among any of you. You guys can all fight it out next time,’” Cruz said. “I think in terms of a solution that unifies Democrats. There ain’t nothing like that.”
“I also think Michelle is not all that eager to run for president,” he admitted.
Obama has repeatedly expressed her desire to remain away from politics.
