Barack Obama leaving the door open for 2008

[BushKenya]

According to www.politics1.com for Monday, September 18, 2006.  The freshman Senator from Illinois was stumping in Iowa for Iowa Senator Tom Harkin (D).  He said he was focusing on 2006, but did not explicitly rule out throwing his hat into the 2008 ring.

Being a freshman Senator from Illinois, a heavily Democratic state because of Chicago, and a popular Senator from Illinois, would he have a better chance in 2008 or 2012?

I personally think 2012 would be his better shot, but with the field wide open in both parties, anything can happen.

[Nym90]

I'd love to see Obama as President, but 2008 would be too early. He could possibly be the VP nominee, but for President he'd have to wait until at least 2012.

Four years in the Senate is not enough experience to be elected President.

[adam]

Why not Obama? See John Edwards. I would really like to win this time.

[Clay]

I like Obama, and would vote for him for president.  I don't really care much about his lack of political experience.  But I doubt enough people would vote for him simply because of that lack of experience, so he wouldn't get elected.

[Joel the Attention Whore]

Bad choice, Barack.

[DownWithTheLeft]

He faces the problem Guilliani does the a greater extent, no one realizes this guy is a hardcore liberal, Michael Moore-esque

[Dr. Cynic]

I think Obama should wait for at least 2012. He's a young guy, and he'd be a good Presidential candidate. Even if he ran in 2008, I don't think he'd win.

[Frodo]

Bad idea -he should wait until 2016, or at least 2012 before making a run. 

[Boris]

He won't run in 2008, nor will he be a Vice Presidential candidate.

[adam]

He faces the problem Guilliani does the a greater extent, no one realizes this guy is a hardcore liberal, Michael Moore-esque

I may have misread this, but dear god tell me you did not just call Rudy Giuliani a hardcore liberal, relative to Michael Moore...

[YRABNNRM]

He faces the problem Guilliani does the a greater extent, no one realizes this guy is a hardcore liberal, Michael Moore-esque

I may have misread this, but dear god tell me you did not just call Rudy Giuliani a hardcore liberal, relative to Michael Moore...

Anyone who is to the left of Tom Coburn is a hardcore, Moore liberal to DWTL.

[adam]

He faces the problem Guilliani does the a greater extent, no one realizes this guy is a hardcore liberal, Michael Moore-esque

I may have misread this, but dear god tell me you did not just call Rudy Giuliani a hardcore liberal, relative to Michael Moore...

Anyone who is to the left of Tom Coburn is a hardcore, Moore liberal to DWTL.

But, I mean...that is just ridiculous...even by his standards. It would be like saying "Ghandi was a fascist" or "Trent Lott is perfectly sane". I highly doubt that anyone is that nuts, not even DWTL.

[DownWithTheLeft]

He faces the problem Guilliani does the a greater extent, no one realizes this guy is a hardcore liberal, Michael Moore-esque

I may have misread this, but dear god tell me you did not just call Rudy Giuliani a hardcore liberal, relative to Michael Moore...

Anyone who is to the left of Tom Coburn is a hardcore, Moore liberal to DWTL.

But, I mean...that is just ridiculous...even by his standards. It would be like saying "Ghandi was a fascist" or "Trent Lott is perfectly sane". I highly doubt that anyone is that nuts, not even DWTL.

The situation Barack Obama is in is similar to Guilliani, Obama is a hardcore liberal, I'm just comparing his problem to Guilliani in the fact many dont' know Obama is a hardcore liberal as many don't know Guilliani is a only a hardcore conservative on national secuirty, but a social liberal. 

Is someone debating whether or not Guilliani is a social liberal?

[YRABNNRM]

It's G-I-U-L-I-A-N-I.

[© Tweed the Younger]

I seriously doubt he's dumb enough to run in 2008.  It'd likely kill his career.  I'd expect him in 2012 if the Dem loses or 2016 if they win.  It's also not impossible that he gets a VP slot in the even that an insanely experienced candidate (Biden namely) gets the nomination.

[Akno21]

If he waits too long to run, wouldn't he lose a lot of his originality and charisma that makes him so appealing? 12 years in the Senate can wipe the smile off anyone's face. If he doesn't run until 2016, he'll cease to be a rising star and an exciting face on the political scene and become just another Senator. 2012 is really the latest that I can see him running at the peak of his abilities.

[Keystone Phil]

He won't run for President nor will he be selected for VP in 2008. I don't even see him as a candidate in 2012.

[Soaring Eagle]

If Obama entered the race, I would pee my pants with joy and then join his campaign. We need leadership like his now more than ever. I truly believe he could beat any candidate the GOP could put up.

[dazzleman]

I think people's expectations of Obama have been built up unrealistically.  When that happens, disappointment follows.

People have been touting him for the presidency without really knowing very much about him.  His biggest credential, apparently, is that he's black, but can appeal across racial lines, something very rare for most black politicians.

That alone is not enough.  I think those who have been talking him up for the presidency when he has less than 2 years in the senate have done him no favors.  The substance will never match up to the hype, and he will be worse off than he would have been had he bided his time a little bit.

Obama is definitely not ready to run for president in 2008.  If he does, it will be a big mistake, IMO.  Even if picked for VP, he runs the risk of succumbing to the Geraldine Ferraro syndrome of tokenism, though not as badly as she did.

[© Tweed the Younger]

  Even if picked for VP, he runs the risk of succumbing to the Geraldine Ferraro syndrome of tokenism, though not as badly as she did.

No, not close.  An equivalent would have been Rep. Howard Ford being picked by John Kerry in 2004.

[dazzleman]

  Even if picked for VP, he runs the risk of succumbing to the Geraldine Ferraro syndrome of tokenism, though not as badly as she did.

No, not close.  An equivalent would have been Rep. Howard Ford being picked by John Kerry in 2004.

Do you mean Harold Ford?  I think you're right BTW.  The Geraldine Ferraro example was overstating the case.  She came from out of nowhere.  Harold Ford is a much better comparison.

[© Tweed the Younger]

Yes, Harold.

[blagohair.com]

He won't run for President nor will he be selected for VP in 2008. I don't even see him as a candidate in 2012.

I love these predictions

[Kane]

LOL, this thread is hilarious.

[DownWithTheLeft]

He faces the problem Guilliani does the a greater extent, no one realizes this guy is a hardcore liberal, Michael Moore-esque

Right on principle, sadly thanks to McCain's ineptness it didn't come out