Staffers and aides to Michelle Obama want to make it clear — the first lady is not seeking a seat on the U.S. Senate and will not be seeking a Senate seat any time in the future.
So quit asking already, they seem to suggest.
Anita Dunn, a former White House communications director with tight ties to the East Wing, said in an email to Politico: “The first lady will be active [post-presidency] but not in the United States Senate!”
And that was followed by another statement from another Democrat close to Mrs. Obama: “The first lady is not running for office,” Politico reported.
But if that’s not enough, there was this, from President Obama: “One thing I can promise you is that Michelle will not run for office,” he said, during a May interview with “Live with Kelly and Michael.”
Mrs. Obama has been the rumored fill-in for California Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 2018 — a scenario that even Mrs. Feinstein doubted by saying “somehow I do not believe [that claim] is true,” various media reported.
But just in case the buzz rears again, Kristina Schake, former communications director to Mrs. Obama, provided yet one more response.
“[Mrs. Obama] is as likely to put her name in contention to be the next pope as she is to run for political office,” Ms. Schake said on Tuesday, Politico reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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