Michelle Obama ‘the only one’: Trump loyalist tips Democrats’ bid for switch to former first lady

Veteran Republican political strategist Steve Bannon tips the Democrats will make ‘a hard play’ for the former first lady, a day after Joe Biden’s disappointing debate performance.

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon. Picture: AFP

Michelle Obama is the only Democrat who stands any chance of beating Donald Trump in November, veteran political strategist Steve Bannon has declared, as the New York Times, one of the most influential publications in the Democrat world, called for President Joe Biden to drop out of the race.

A day after the President’s shocking performance in a debate against Donald Trump that has triggered panic among Democrats, Mr Bannon, one of the masterminds of Mr Trump’s 2016 election victory, said Michelle Obama, 60, was “the only one I see that could really make a run at President Trump”.

“That also takes care of, obviously the Kamala Harris situation,” Mr Bannon, 70, told high-profile podcaster Megan Kelly on Friday (AEST), referring to the perceived need among Democrats not to jettison a black woman such as the Vice President were Joe Biden to step aside.

“She would be the most competitive, because it would go back to the nostalgia they have for the Obama administration. And clearly Barack Obama, President Obama, would be very involved in that campaign,” he added.

Mr Biden, who has shown no indication he will retire, sought to put on a brave face on Friday at a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, delivering a surprisingly energetic performance after an evening that caused many senior Democrats, still largely anonymous, to conclude the 81-year-old president wasn’t fit to pursue a second term.

Former first lady Michelle Obama onstage in 2022, talking about her book, The Light We Carry. Picture: Getty Images for Live Nation

Joe Biden’s chance of being re-elected president plunged from 36 per cent to 19 per cent on Friday, according to an average of eight political betting markets tracked by RealClear Politics (compared with 55 per cent for Donald Trump). It was the biggest one-day movement for any candidate this presidential election cycle.

Separately, the New York Times editorial board said Mr Biden’s victory over Mr Trump in 2020 was “no longer a sufficient rationale” for him to seek second term, by the end of which he would be 86.

“The President needed to convince the American public that he was equal to the formidable demands of the office he is seeking to hold for another term. Voters, however, cannot be expected to ignore what was instead plain to see: Mr Biden is not the man he was four years ago,” the venerable paper said.

“The greatest public service Mr Biden can now perform is to announce that he will not continue to run for re-election,” it added, suggesting to was a “reckless gamble” to continue.

Gavin Newsom. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Gretchen Whitmer. Picture: AFP

Former first lady Ms Obama, who unlike her husband hasn’t publicly commented on the debate, has repeatedly dismissed speculation she might seek to run, but her name remains among a handful including those of top Democratic Party governors and the Vice President who could stand in his place.

“She’s not partisan. She really wants to be a unifier. I think they’ll make a hard play for Michelle Obama,” Mr Bannon predicted, suggesting she could team up with California governor Gavin Newsom or Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer.

In theory Democrats could pick an alternative candidate at their August convention in Chicago, although according to the party’s constitution Joe Biden himself is the only person who could release the state delegates he has already accumulated (who are obliged to vote for him) by announcing he wouldn’t stand in the November 5th poll.

Mr Trump is due to be formally endorsed as the Republican Party’s candidate in July in Milwaukee.

Mr Bannon, due to check into a federal prison on Monday to serve a four-month prison sentence after his Supreme Court appeal over his subpoena violation was rejected on Friday, remains a highly influential Republican and Trump loyalist with a large following.

A former naval officer, investment banker and media executive, he served as Mr Trump’s top political adviser in the White House in 2017 after spearheading his victorious campaign over Hillary Clinton.

“We have to make the pain of any transition [to a new candidate] so horrible [for Democrats] that it sticks to them regardless of who they bring in,” he said, predicting Trump could probably still win against Ms Obama.

“Today’s the 110th anniversary of the assassination of the Archduke in Sarajevo by the Serbian nationalist that kicked off the bloodiest century in mankind’s history,” he also said, referring to the start of WWI and implying Biden wasn’t fit to serve as commander in chief in internationally uncertain times.