Barbara Walters Pushes Michelle Obama to Run for Office: 'You'd Be a Very Popular Candidate'

May 29th, 2012 10:57 PM

Barbara Walters either deeply adores Michelle Obama or she was just acting like an extreme guest-coddler on The View Tuesday. She suggested that if President Obama lost the election – and she then lifted her hands to her mouth in horror – Mrs. Obama could have a career of her own since she would be “a very popular candidate.”

Walters began: “There have been rumors – if the president is not reelected [dramatic ‘God forbid!’ face], or that in the future, that you might consider running for political office.” Mrs. Obama was dismissing that talk, at least for now: (Video and transcript below)

BARBARA WALTERS: There have been rumors – if the president is not reelected [dramatic ‘God forbid!’ face], or that in the future, that you might consider running for political office.

MRS. OBAMA: Those are other people’s rumors.

WALTERS: Would you ever?

MRS. OBAMA: I have absolutely --

WALTERS: You would be a very popular candidate.

MRS. OBAMA: -- absolutely not.         

WALTERS: You would not. You would rule it out.

MRS. OBAMA: I am not interested in politics. Never have been.