Obama Talks Wtih Top Advisers in Iowa

[Alhena]

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061126/NEWS09/611260332

Democrat Barack Obama has sought the advice of top campaign workers in Iowa and has established a seedling support network in this state as he prepares to decide whether to seek the 2008 presidential nomination.

The first-term Illinois senator has surrounded himself with advisers rich in experience in Iowa, the leadoff caucus state.

Obama has vaulted to the top tier among prospective candidates for the Democratic Party's nomination, even as the new star in the party says he has not made up his mind about running.

The Iowa connections of Obama's campaign advisers and the senator's behind-the-scenes inquiry into the Iowa caucuses are hardly an announcement that he is running for president. But they show he is visualizing the presidential campaign process, in the event he decides to run.

Obama said last month he was considering a campaign for president, as enthusiastic crowds turned out for his political appearances on behalf of other candidates and as he traveled the country promoting his best-selling autobiography.

Shortly after the Nov. 7 election, Obama telephoned John Norris, the Des Moines Democrat who ran John Kerry's winning campaign in the 2004 Iowa caucuses.

"He basically called to talk about the lay of the land in Iowa," said Norris, who described Obama's inquiries as "earnest" and reflecting genuine uncertainty about his future.

[IndianaGreen]

1. The time for Obama to run for President is now, rather than later

The longer Obama stays in the Senate, the more likely he is to become compromised by questionable votes on issues the leadership wants, rather than voting his conscience. The time for Obama to run for President is now, rather than later.

Obama lacks experience in national security affairs, goes the meme by the Hillaristas. Let's consider that as an asset, rather than a liability! Obama spoke up against the war in Iraq back in 2002. Obama said that it was the wrong war at the wrong time, and that the US needed to concentrate in chasing Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. At about the same time Obama gave this speech, more "experienced" Democrats such as Biden, Bayh, Gephardt, Harman, Lieberman, and Hillary were standing alongside Bush in the Rose Garden to express support for the Iraq War Resolution. That's the sort of "experience" we don't need in the White House.

[nevergiveup]

2. I couldn't agree with you more

He is not one of the "good ole boys". His lack of experience is a plus and his early doubts on this war are documented and they separate him from the others. Do not underestimate the power of this man's appeal. I have said it before and I will say it again....the nomination is his if he wants it.

[aquart]

6. Right. Naked ambition is so much better than actual conviction and experience.

Still waiting for one split second where he puts this country ahead of his own ambition. But then, I'm waiting for that with all of them. Gore did. Look what it got him.

[Clarkie1]

10. I agree with you about more years in the senate being a liablity.

Hillary has no relevant experience in national security affairs either, imo (I just mention that because you brought up the "Hillaristas meme").

I think Obama would make an excellent VP choice. He could be groomed for 8 years to assume the top slot in 2016.

Clark/Obama 08'

[IndianaGreen]

28. Since you are a Wes Clark supporter, his strongest asset is...

that he is untouched by political corruption and that he is not among the Democrats that appeased Bush's power grab in the aftermath of 9-11.

Wes Clark has the potential of becoming a modern version of George Marshall, the best President that America never had.

Good luck in the primaries. I sure hope Clark runs and that he gets the media notice that he deserves!

[paulk]

29. re: the "meme"

it's not a meme, it's reality, and you don't need to be a "Hillarista" to see that. As for lack of foreign policy experience being an asset, one needs look no further than GW Bush to question that assumption.

And the only Democrats standing with Bush at the Rose Garden were Lieberman and Gephardt.

[splat]

3. America won't vote for an inexperienced black man, no matter...

...how charismatic he may be. It's not enough.

(Back when nobody knew what party Colin Powell belonged to, even he wouldn't run because his wife was sure he'd be shot.)

[Alhena]

4. Some won't, enough will to elect him I believe ...

and there's only one way to find out for sure. Besides, it's not like he's finished if he runs and loses. He will gain stature as long as he runs a good campaign which I have every expectation he will do.

[aquart]

7. Why? What does he offer?

What do WE get out of it?

[Alhena]

12. What do WE get out of it?

We get the best of the available candidates, in my judgment.

We get the only one of the major candidates (Hillary, Kerry, Edwards, Bayh) who did not vote for the Iraq debacle and actually spoke out strongly against it.

We get the only candidate we've had since RFK with the kind of charisma that draws out crowds in the thousands wherever he goes.

We get a man who would be the most intelligent president in history in all likelihood- a very small percentage of the population can get into Harvard Law school, and he finished magna cum laude among that lofty group. I'm a lawyer and I know just what an incredible feat that is.

We get a man who has walked the walk- he's done years of work in the trenches doing social work for the poor and disadvantaged.

We get a man who is about as progressive as you can be and still get elected in this country. Yes, I know many here want a Feingold, but a Feingold will never get elected.

And yes, the fact that he is an African-American would also be a plus, considering that he would be able to help bridge our racial divides, at least to a small extent.

[LisaL]

15. We, he won't be finished, but we will be subjected to another

republican president.

[PDittie]

5. Agreed.

Obama stands even less chance of winning than does Hillary Clinton.

[IndianaGreen]

8. Obama will unify the party and the antiwar, anti-globalist Left

while Hillary will cause a schism comparable to Goldwater's 1964 nomination.

[PDittie]

14. I just can't support Obama for anything except

vice-president. (Maybe that's what he's really running for.)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

26. Sure. They won't vote for experienced black men either.

They'll just make up dumb excuses about how he's "inexperienced."

[Moloch]

9. He's got my vote in the primaries.

Hopefully he'll run.

[Sherman A1]

19. Same here

[knight_of_the_star]

11. Snowball's chance

First, he's only been in the Senate for two years. HUGE lacking of experience there will rear its head quickly in any campaign involving him.

Second, has he DONE anything aside from give nice speeches and put out a book with an impressive sounding title? Sounds to me like he's an empty suit, nothing more.

Third, I would NEVER regardless of who is running vote for a man with such naked ambition, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way. Honestly, two years in the Senate and then running for the White House, at least John Edwards had finished most of his term before he started running, and I felt the same way about JE.

[davidinalameda]

13. he's hooking up with the old Kerry people?

that's a sure recipe for doom

[depakid]

16. "vaulted to the top tier"

Based on what?

Arrogance?

[wisteria]

17. I think he is making a mistake if he tries to run now.

I don't care what the polls say. It is a foolish move, unless he is trying for VP. He has no tough campaign training, running as a shoe-in two years ago. He also is not experienced enough. And, let me mention him being African American, Ford was riding hi and people said they were going to vote for him, until any flimsy excuse came along that allowed them to change their mind. Frankly, I think Obama needs an ego check.

[Alhena]

18. Why is it foolish to try?

"I don't care what the polls say. It is a foolish move, unless he is trying for VP."

Why? What exactly is the harm in giving the voters as many options as possible? I and many other Americans see Obama as the guy we want as president. How does it harm you or anyone else to allow him to throw his hat in the ring and see if many other Americans might agree?

It's not like a person only gets one chance to run for president. I don't hear anybody telling John Edwards or Wesley Clark they can't run again.

And the fact of the matter is that Obama has an almost unprecedented amount of positive buzz right now. He would be making a very unwise calculation to assume that that buzz would still exist after 4-8 more years of casting necessarily controversial votes in the Senate. That's exactly the reason why it's so hard to go from the Senate to the Presidency- Giuliani is more liberal than McCain, but McCain is the only one who has large numbers of consevatives hating him because they remember the decisions he made against the Bush tax cuts, participating in the Gang of 14, etc. Guiliani has the advantage of NOT having been forced to make such tough votes in the Senate. Obama should strike while the iron is hot and if he doesn't win, no tragedy, just go back to the Senate, presumably with his prestige enhanced if he comes in second for the Democratic nomination, which I expect is the worst he will do.

And I actually think he would beat Hillary, there is no comparison between them when it comes to public speaking ability. I saw Hillary give a speech and it sounded like a corporate lawyer giving a summation in court.

[raebrek]

20. I'm with you.

Why say someone can't/shouldn't run before they even start. Why close the door before it has even been knocked upon. Is he Arrogant? Surely not any more the Mr. Kerry or Ms Hillary. Do we know a lot about him? No we don't. Hey if he doesn't have a chance then he won't win the primary. So unless we distrust the primary elections what is there to worry about?

[Withywindle]

22. I think you have to be a bit arrogant to run for President.

It's not something a humble person does! But I doubt Obama would be considering it this seriously at this point in his career if he didn't have thousands of supporters nagging him to do it. It might be arrogant, but it's based on something.

I agree about the primaries. I think it's a good thing for voters to have a wide range of choices. Why whittle down our (sizable!) talent pool before it even starts?

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[wisteria]

24. Excuse me, Senator Kerry is not arrogant and I never suggested

Obama was. I said he may have an ego problem based on some positive PR. Now, I don't know enough about Hillary though, so I can't comment on that.
Let him try then. I just don't think he is ready. However, everyone that wants to should attempt it.

[raebrek]

27. misque

I did not mean to imply that "you said Senator Kerry was arrogant". My implication was that Mr. Obama was not any more arrogant then Senator Kerry and that was in response to those that said Mr. Obama was arrogant.

[Inuca]

21. I think Obama is wonderful, BUT...

... I am not at all optimistic about his chances in a general election. He may win the primaries, I truly have no idea, I agree that he is highly charismatic in the best sense of the word. But in a nasty general, his lack of ANY relevant experience (especially in these highly troubled times), not to mention, unfortunately, his race, can be very serious handicaps against almost anybody that may be the republican nominee, even that nobody Romney. On the other hand, as already mentioned upthread, I think he would make a wonderful VP candidate for whoever wins the nomination. And a good president would use him for much more than state funerals. And to go back to your question, why it would be foolish for him to try, maybe not foolish but it would show a kind of arrogance, presumptuousness, that would make me and possibly many others think less of him in the future. In spite of his no doubt stellar brains, 2-3 years in the Senate and a few years in the state senate do NOT qualify you for the highest position in the land. I do believe he will have the wisdom not to run, we shall see. There is a huge mess, here and abroad, to clean up after these horrid Bush years, this is no time for a novice, no matter how brilliant. And by the way this applies even more to Edwards IMHO, also thin in experience and less stellar in all respects, again IMHO. I do believe that Obama deserves to be president someday, I do not think the same is true of Edwards.

[wisteria]

25. Thank you for putting it better than I did. I like Obama too, but... n/t

[wisteria]

23. Because, if he goal is to be president, he won't make it IMO.

He may be all the things you say, but ultimately, he never has run in a tough campaign and unfortunately, I think we need to look at TN and Ford for guidance and lessons.
I have nothing against Obama, I just don't feel he is at all ready to be President of the United States. One great speech and two year/three years in the Senate does not qualify him. I would think that after the nightmare of Bush, who was inexperienced, the public would want an experienced leader, one who appears to have the confidence and the ability to change the tone in Washington and take this country forward. I just don't feel Obama fits that tall order right now.