In less than five months, voters could be deciding between Donald Trump and President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election.
While this will likely be the head-to-head matchup voters decide between, a candidate who has announced plans to be in the election is trending on the betting odds.
What Happened: Trump and Biden have been the betting favorites for many months and remain close in election polls.
One name that continues to trend on betting odds and in polls when she appears is Michelle Obama, the former first lady and wife of former President Barack Obama.
Obama has not expressed any interest in running in the election but is listed as a betting option at sportsbooks and on prediction market Polymarket.
On Polymarket, Obama is listed in third place at 4%, trailing only Trump (56%) and Biden (35%). In fact, Obama is a bigger favorite than Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (2%), who is running in the election as a third-party candidate.
Gavin Newsom is listed at 2% and Kamala Harris is listed at 1%.
Calling itself the world's largest prediction market, Polymarket offers people to bet on items in categories such as politics, sports, cryptocurrency, pop culture and more.
On Polymarket, users deposit to Polygon MATIC/USD using USDC USDC/USD and can deposit with Ethereum ETH/USD. Winning wagers cash out at $1.
The 2024 election market on Polymarket has over $170 million in wagers made.
Obama is listed at +1,200 at Bet365 according to a report from Covers, trailing Trump at -150 and Biden at +162. At Bet365, Obama's odds are significantly better than Kennedy Jr. who is listed at +2,800. Newsom and Harris trail the leaders at +3,300 and +6,600, respectively.
Obama's odds on Bet365 have improved from April when she was listed at +1,600. Back in 2023, Obama had odds of +3,500.
Related Link: Michelle Obama Shares Worries About 2024 Polls Keep Her Awake At Night: ‘We Cannot Take This Democracy For Granted’
Why It's Important: Benzinga previously reported that a Rasmussen Reports survey showed that 48% of Democratic voters would support the Democratic Party finding a new candidate to replace Biden.
Obama topped the list of potential replacements for Biden with the following results.
Michelle Obama: 20%
Kamala Harris: 15%
Hillary Clinton: 12%
Gavin Newsom: 11%
Gretchen Whitmer: 9%
None of the Above: 27%
Not Sure: 6%
Concerns over Biden's age have remained a key item on the minds of voters as the president looks to win reelection.
Biden recently clapped back at a reporter who questioned if he would hand over the presidency to Vice President Kamala Harris before the end of his second term if he wins the 2024 election.
Harris was asked last year about the potential of taking over the presidency should anything happen to Biden.
“Questions about the president’s age often go hand in hand with questions about how you would step in the role if necessary,” a reporter asked Harris in September 2023.
Harris said part of the job as vice president is being ready to take over as president if anything happens.
“Well, first of all, let’s — I’m answering your hypothetical, but Joe Biden is going to be fine. So, that is not going to come to fruition,” Harris said at the time.
Of the 45 U.S. presidents, eight have died while in office, representing around 18%. Four died from natural causes and four were assassinated.
“But let us also understand that every vice president — every vice president — understands that when they take the oath, that they must be very clear about the responsibility they may have to take over the job of being president," Harris said. "I am no different.”
Biden, the oldest serving president, is set to turn 82 in November. Ex-President Donald Trump, his Republican opponent, is 77. Trump was also the second-oldest president when he left office in 2021 — trailing only President Ronald Reagan.
If Biden is re-elected, he would be 86 when he leaves office at the end of his second presidential term.
A president has not died in office since John F. Kennedy in 1963. With the age of Biden and Trump in focus, voters can see the potential choice of a vice president as a bigger priority.
While it remains unlikely that Michelle Obama will find herself running in the election, bettors look ready to capitalize on the high betting odds amid the speculation.
Read Next: Donald Trump Vets Vice Presidential Candidates: GOP’s Top Contenders, Betting Odds
Photo: RFK Jr, Shutterstock; Obama, Debby Wong via Shutterstock
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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