At an address to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Obama suggested that if it weren’t illegal under the Constitution, he would seek a third term.
“If I ran again, I could win,” said Obama.
He continued in his speech to explain that he loves serving, and wishes he could serve longer. He added that he thinks it’s been a pretty good year. The speech was intended to call upon African leaders to follow term limit laws when their terms end, just as Obama will in 2016.
“I actually think I’m a pretty good president,” he said. “There’s a lot I’d like to do to keep America moving, but the law’s the law.”
The Real Clear Politics approval rating average has President Obama at 50.2 percent disapproval Tuesday.
Obama, in suggesting leaders step down at the conclusion of their terms, was referring to Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza, who was just elected to a third term although their constitution limits him to two. The unrest throughout the African country sparked by Nkurunziza’s controversial third term is the kind of action Obama believes will put democracy at risk.
The meeting in Ethiopia is the final leg of Obama’s five-day trip to Africa, following his visit to Kenya earlier this week.
Obama closed his comments about seeking a third term by promising that he’ll visit Africa more often when he has some free time, although he intends to keep working toward helping Americans.