Obama running as if he's got a rival

[Freddie Stubbs]

By David Mendell
Tribune staff reporter
Published July 13, 2004

PEORIA -- After a long and tiring day on the campaign trail that ended past 10 p.m., Barack Obama rose at dawn the next morning and jogged alone through desolate downtown streets here, with nary a soul in sight.

Obama, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, has been campaigning this way for weeks--on the verge of exhaustion. It is one of the most unusual sights in all of politics: a candidate scurrying through back roads and main streets of Illinois chasing a coveted open U.S. Senate seat, with no one in pursuit.

On Monday, Obama was at it again, giving an address before the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, where he criticized the foreign policy of the Bush administration subtly and directly--to no response from the opposition.

The day before, Obama was the featured speaker before 2,000 people gathered for a social justice rally on Navy Pier, a rally that was supposed to feature his Republican opponent as well. However, Obama--temporarily at least--doesn't have a Republican foe.

more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0407130297jul13,1,2244055.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[LuminousX]

1. He does...voter apathy

Obama is someone I can support because he realizes nothing is a cake walk. Everything worthwhile needs to be worked for and he can't be caught slacking when the GOP do field a candidate against him, especially if they go the 'star power' route and go with Ditka.

[kevin881]

3. that and mike ditka :(

chicagoans are so dumb they will vote for him... good think ditka has a lot of skeletons... for example, i used to see him at "jillys" on rush street with women who were not his wife... regularly.

[drumwolf]

2. Good!

That's how it should be.

Obama himself may have the wide lead in his race, but the Dems as a whole are in absolutely no position not to give 1000% percent in every single race in this election.

And I hope that Kerry and Edwards follow his lead and do exactly the same thing no matter how low Bush's approval ratings may sink before November.