Michelle Obama Would Be Hillary Clinton’s Strongest Challenger According To New Poll

Last updated on September 25th, 2023 at 01:41 pm

A new Rasmussen poll has found that First Lady Michelle Obama would be the strongest challenger to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton if she chose to run in 2016.

According to Rasmussen:

To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.

In a hypothetical matchup with Hillary Clinton, the putative Democratic presidential nominee in 2016, Obama earns 44% support from black voters to Clinton’s 36%.

Among Likely Democratic Voters, it’s Clinton 56%, Obama 22%. That appears to be a better showing against Clinton than Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, the only other announced Democratic presidential candidate, makes at this point.

Among all voters, Clinton earns 37% support to Obama’s 17%. A sizable 40% prefer some other candidate.

The First Lady has consistently been one of the most popular political figures in the country since her husband was first elected president, so it isn’t surprising that she polls so well. The First Lady would start the race with ten points more support than Elizabeth Warren. She would have three times more support than Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and blow any other Democrat out of the water.

However, even Mrs. Obama would trail former Sec. of State Clinton by more than thirty points. Michelle Obama has shown no interest in running for office, but the poll does illustrate the strength of Hillary Clinton.

Clinton is the strongest candidate in either party. She is not unbeatable, but she solidly has the vast majority of Democrats behind her. No matter what gets thrown her way, Democrats are committed to her candidacy in large numbers.

Only 14% of likely voters wanted Michelle Obama to run for president. Democrats are satisfied with Clinton in what is increasingly looking like a Hillary year.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association