Is Anna Wintour the Next US Ambassador to London? Probably Not and Here’s Why

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In the past couple of years, Anna Wintour has become more publicly involved with politics than at any other time in her career, leading many to wonder: Why?

Wintour, who is one of Obama’s top-tier fundraising bundlers, has been particularly politically active over the past few months. She’s attended two state dinners (one of which honored UK prime minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha) and hosted a fundraising event with Scarlett Johansson for Runway to Win, an official fashion fundraiser for the Obama-Biden campaign. This week, she’ll host another Runway to Win event with Iman in Chicago, as well as a fundraising dinner in New York at Sarah Jessica Parker’s house. While conservatives are criticizing Wintour’s involvement in Obama’s campaign as an indicator of the President’s “out of touch”-ness (the phrase-du-jour), the Brits are suddenly speculating that she may be up for a job with the president, should he be re-elected.

Both the Guardian (where it just so happens Wintour’s brother, Patrick Wintour, is a political editor) and the Independent, are saying Wintour may be a candidate to succeed Louis Susman as the US Ambassador to London, when Susman retires later this year. As the Guardian points out, the position is often given to someone whose fundraising efforts have been significant, as Wintour’s obviously have.

In addition to her fundraising efforts, The Guardian points to Michelle Obama’s evolution into a style icon as evidence:

In addition, Wintour has been instrumental in helping Michelle Obama dress fashionably, pleasing not only the first lady but presumably her husband as well. That in turn, benefits the business of fashion, particularly young designers who gain from sales and exposure after their designs are worn by Mrs Obama. Moreover, Vogue has consistently supported the first lady’s effort in education and public health and was the first glossy magazine to land her for a cover.

The paper also spoke to a state department spokesperson who said,

An ambassador serves at the pleasure of the president. It’s a designation of the most qualified person. But it would be erroneous to think of London as a nice, cushy, westernised post. This is a key strategic ally, so you’re going to want a very seasoned person, be it on the economic or diplomatic side of things.

So is this a legitimate possibility? Is Anna Wintour qualified? Would she even be interested?