President Barack Obama may hang around in Washington after his second term ends in January 2017, according to ABC News.
If he stays, he’ll be better able to rally Democrats to defend his unpopular and costly regulatory or legislative accomplishments, such as Obamacare and increased immigration.
The stay would violate the evolved expectation that ex-presidents leave town to avoid fights with newly elected presidents. For example, President George W. Bush left for Texas, and has avoided criticizing his successor’s policies, even when invited to comment by media personalities, such as Jay Leno.
But Bush, like many other presidents, got involved in politics after an early career in business.
In contrast, Obama’s entire adult life has been focused on politics, leaving him few easy alternatives once he’s takes the traditional helicopter flight from the White House on Jan. 20, 2017.
“Do they say in Washington?… that’s something they’re thinking about,” said ABC’s Barbara Walters, who was invited by Obama to conduct a soft-focus interview for broadcast Friday, Nov. 29, at 10 p.m. Eastern.
Obama may stay in D.C. in part because of his 16 year-old daughter, Sasha, who has established new friends in D.C., Walters told an ABC interviewer, in a segment intended to advertise the interview.
“Cause she’s, you know, obviously they — and Michelle — have made a lot of sacrifices on behalf of my cockamamie ideas, the running for office and things,” Obama told Walters.
Walter also said that Obama “says that he will ever again run for elective office.”
However, there are many potential appointed political positions — such as U.N. chief — that would keep him in the limelight.