Malia Obama secretly hoped that her father, Barack Obama, wouldn’t win the 2008 election
Between 2004 and 2007, Barack Obama continued to rise in America’s political landscape, drawing more attention to his charming family. Interest in the Obamas surged in February 2007 when Barack, then a U.S. Senator, announced his candidacy for the 2008 presidential nomination at the historic Old State Capitol, where Abraham Lincoln once launched his political career. Naturally, Barack had his family by his side. He stood in front of the grand Sugar Creek limestone building with his family. Eight-year-old Malia, bundled up against the cold Illinois weather, wore a black coat, white scarf, and matching gloves and beanie.
That year was busy for the entire family. Even while campaigning, Barack and Michelle Obama tried to keep a routine for their daughters, as they shared with People in 2008. The proud parents gave Malia and Sasha chores, like setting the table and doing the dishes, earning them a $1 weekly allowance. They also made sure to have movie nights together as a family. In 2007, Malia mentioned that she sometimes hoped her father wouldn’t win the election, though Barack explained it was mainly because she felt nervous about leaving Chicago.
When Malia moved to the White House, she got a dog as part of the family’s new life there.
Less than a year after Barack Obama’s election victory, Malia packed up her toys and other belongings to move into the White House, leaving behind a life of relative normalcy. But there were perks to this big change. In his victory speech, Barack promised his daughters a dog, a long-awaited addition to the family. However, choosing a puppy wasn’t straightforward because Malia is allergic to animal fur. According to The Mercury News, they needed a hypoallergenic breed and preferred to adopt rather than purchase. This made the search a bit challenging. Barack even joked with the press, saying, “Obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me. So whether we’re going to be able to balance those two things, I think, is a pressing issue in the Obama household.”
The hunt for the perfect First Dog captivated the nation. Although the Obamas couldn’t find a suitable shelter pup, the late U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy gifted them a Portuguese water dog. The Kennedys were familiar with the breed and discovered that one of their dog’s relatives had a litter needing homes. The girls named the dog Bo, after a cousin’s cat. Later, in 2013, the Obamas added a second Portuguese water dog to the family, named Sunny.