How do you think Obama will relate to progressives once elected?

[undeterred]

[LSparkle]

1. He learned from W's 2000 campaign ...

He's going to run to win ... and then govern from
the FAR LEFT!!!

[Somawas]

2. He is now and always has been a centrist.

I just hope that he really is from the Democratic wing of the Democratic party and not another corporatist.

[cbc5g]

3. He'll relate when he gives us liberal SCOTUS nominees

[Lebam in LA]

4. Centrist

I think the progressives are going to be disappointed

[newmajority]

5. After 28 years of BushClinton trickle down pissing on the middle class

I'll settle for steps in the proper direction, if not a complete revolution. I don't envision any scenario under which he could not be an improvement.

[Egnever]

6. Honestly

[Lisa0825]

7. He will be somewhere between center and progressive.

We won't like everything, but it will be an astounding improvement from where we are now.

[PolNewf]

8. I agree

While I think Obama does lean left that is moderated by his pragmatism.

[JeffR]

9. Other.

He's a centrist, but he's pragmatic, has a conscience and he's open to fresh ideas. He'll listen to progressives inasmuch as we keep talking and keep trying to steer him left with sound policy ideas. He might not always agree, but he'll listen. This is not a dismissive ideologue.

[undeterred]

10. thanks

that rings true

[tekisui]

14. This was to be my answer as well.

Many Progressives will be riding his coattails into the House and Senate.

For his First Term, he will listen and make sound course correcting decisions. And, he will grow more Progressive through his Presidency, IMO.

[styersc]

11. Unfortunately, it seems, he will watch the polls and when the polls

indicate a progressive issue is popular he will half-heartedly throw his weight behind it. Obama is recently revealed as the sort of politician that we are accustomed too.

But until we have a progressive lion on the ticket, he will certainly be better then the alternative.

[Kahuna]

12. I voted, "...center." Because he wants to be the president of ALL Americans..

not just progressives.

[Mass]

13. Hopefully, he will try to show people that policies that progressives hold dear are centrist.

and try to Move the center to the left. Of course, for that, he needs to get rid of many Democratic strategists who think people are too stupid to understand.

[MaineDem]

15. What defines a progressive?

After all this time I still don't know.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

16. I've been quite disappointed with Rachel Maddow who doesn't understand the nuance of getting elected

She is apparently quite upset with Obama and continues to repeat that he will not win the election. She is also upset with Russ Feingold because he continues to support Obama after FISA, faith-based, etc. I'm not sure what Rachel's problem is but like many of us liberals, we fail to realize that we are still a negative brand in America. We have to work to change the thinking on what it means to be a progressive or a liberal and that being a liberal is nothing to be ashamed about. Instead of her and our whining, we need to understand how the times are.

Even with that said, I think Obama needs to do what is necessary to get into the White House so that we can begin to make progressive changes. Trying to turn him into a Bill Clinton or a George Bush when he is not is ludicrous. He has always been a progressive, just not liberal. But his voting record--both in IL and in the U.S. Senate--reflect progressive and some liberal tendencies. Again, he's more progressive/liberal than the DLC but he is a Centrist. I'll take it if it means that he can work to bring about the much-needed change in this country. And I do think that he won't be *liberal* but he WILL be progressive!!!