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Why Michelle Obama’s absence could seriously hurt Kamala Harris's campaign

Despite his obvious weaknesses, Donald Trump still retains significant voter support and all major battleground states remain toss-ups

With just about 20 days left until the voting day, Democrats are packing all the firepower at their disposal to ensure that Kamala Harris emerges the winner on November 5. After keeping away from the campaign trail initially, former president Barack Obama has become active, seemingly worried over Harris’s narrow margins in opinion polls. Another former president Bill Clinton, too, has been stumping for Harris in key swing states. However, the absence of a key Democrat, Michelle Obama, has been worrying party members eager to see the former first lady give the Harris campaign a much-needed push. A recent Reuters poll showed that Michelle is the only major Democrat to enjoy majority favourability among registered voters. Some polls show she could easily beat Trump, and yet, she has been conspicuous by her absence, despite the race getting tighter by the second.

Known for her aversion to partisan politics, Michelle has been working behind the scenes to boost voter turnout in battleground states, but she is yet to make an official appearance for Harris since the Democratic National Convention in August. Her last public show of support was in the form of a social media post on September 10, after Harris made a strong show in her only presidential debate with Donald Trump.

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Since then, Michelle has spent most of her time on personal and charitable efforts, such as promoting the release of the paperback version of her memoir, Becoming. She has taken to social media to solicit donations for hurricane victims. Her political efforts so far have been focused on ‘When We All Vote’, the voter registration and engagement initiative she launched in 2018, which works to combat voter apathy, particularly among young voters and communities of colour. The campaign is expected to bring in five million Americans to voting booths in November.

Sources close to Michelle point out that she did not campaign extensively for Joe Biden in 2020, but delivered a powerful closing argument via video in his support. It was, however, a unique election, held when Covid-19 was at its peak. But Harris supporters note that Michelle had campaigned actively for Hillary Clinton in 2016, starting from September, making several campaign stops in battleground states.

Michelle's enduring appeal as a Democratic surrogate is mainly because of the fact that she has never run for office. Earlier this year, her office clarified that she had no plans to run for president.

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She has openly spoken about her discomfort with electoral politics. In her memoir, she has written extensively about the emotional toll of being in the public eye, emphasising that partisan politics is not something that she enjoys. She has expressed relief at stepping away from life in the limelight, devoting much of her post-White House career to charitable endeavours. She is comfortable with non-partisan initiatives like ‘When We All Vote’, but she has stayed away from overtly partisan endeavours. This could explain why she has refused to take a more prominent role in the Harris campaign.

Michelle also appears keen to avoid reinforcing the perception of dynastic politics. Her heightened visibility, along with the presence of her husband on the campaign trail, could be construed as an undue concentration of power within the Obama family. By avoiding the limelight, Michelle also helps Harris maintain focus on her own political message, giving her space to handle the rigours of campaign. As the first female, black and south Asian candidate, Harris faces unique challenges, including intense scrutiny and, at times, unfair criticism. Michelle understands such problems, having experienced similar dynamics as the first black first lady.

Moreover, the Democratic Party seems to be undergoing a significant transition, with various factions vying for influence, and Michelle’s absence could be interpreted as a strategic decision as well. Her political philosophy is largely centrist, reflecting the approach of her husband’s administration, which differs clearly from the more progressive wing of the party that is becoming increasingly vocal. Harris was once identified as part of the progressive wing, but electoral compulsions have forced her to retreat to the centre, but the progressive faction is here to stay. The internal churn within the party over issues like Gaza clearly demonstrates this shift. So, if Michelle identifies herself closely with Harris, it might be perceived as an endorsement of the more centrist elements of the party, which could alienate the younger, more progressive voters who are crucial to Democrats’ future.

Another reason behind Michelle staying away could be security. Sources close to the Obamas have indicated that Michelle is worried after the two assassination attempts against Trump. Both Harris and Trump now face unprecedented security measures on the campaign trail, including increased Secret Service protection and the use of bulletproof glass. Given the risks, Michelle may be especially cautious about making public appearances.

While most Democratic strategists want Michelle to play a more visible role, her influence continues to resonate through her efforts to promote voter participation and civic engagement. But she might just make an appearance as the campaign winds up since Harris is facing a really tough battle. Despite his obvious weaknesses, Trump still retains significant voter support and all major battleground states remain toss-ups. Michelle is really worried about Trump returning to the White House for a second term and that fear might just prompt her to hit the trail for a final push for Harris.