Michelle contemplated divorcing Barack Obama in 2000: Book

London, May 16:

contemplated divorcing

in 2000 after he ignored her advice not to run for a House seat in Chicago, making him so "depressed" that friends feared he might commit suicide, says a new book.

According to the book, Michelle prepared divorce papers in 2000 following Barack's disastrous attempt to win a House seat in Chicago -- in fact, as she was upset that he ignored her advice not to take on the four-term incumbent Bobby Rush.

Their marriage -- in its eighth year at the time -- was "on the rocks" with Barack so depressed some of his friends feared he was suicidal, author Edward Klein has claimed in his book, titled 'The Amateur'.

"After Obama's humiliating defeat, he was broke and deeply in debt and it looked as though he might be finished in public life. During the dark days that followed his defeat, he turned to Michelle for comfort.

"But she was in no mood to offer him sympathy. After all he had refused to listen to her warnings about taking on the formidable Bobby Rush. He had put his family in a precarious financial position. And he had dashed Michelle's hopes of creating a stable and secure future."

"As a result, their marriage was on the rocks, and Obama confided to friends that he and Michelle were talking about divorce. Michelle actually had divorce papers drawn up," the author wrote, citing a friend of the Obamas.

The claims mark the second time the Obamas have faced allegations they were on the verge of divorce after reports in 2010 suggested they were having difficulties, the 'Daily Mail' newspaper reported.

The couple appear to have worked out their differences, however -- Barack Obama ran for a Senate seat in Illinois and won it in, assuming office in 2005 and restoring his wife's faith in him.

The couple has admitted that, in the past, they did go through a rough patch but that they patched things up and grew closer together. The Obamas have now been married for 21 years and have two children, Malia, 13, and Sasha, nine.

PTI