Posted on 10/22/2006 8:00:05 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Sen. Barack Obama acknowledged Sunday he was considering a run for president in 2008, backing off previous statements that he would not do so.
The Illinois Democrat said he could no longer stand by the statements he made after his 2004 election and earlier this year that he would serve a full six-year term in Congress. He said he would not make a decision until after the Nov. 7 elections.
"That was how I was thinking at that time," said Obama, when asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" about his previous statements.
"Given the response I've been getting the last several months, I have thought about the possibility" although not with any seriousness or depth, he said. "My focus is on '06. ... After November 7, I'll sit down and consider it."
Obama was largely unknown outside Illinois when he burst onto the national scene with a widely acclaimed address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
In recent weeks, his political stock has been rising as a potentially viable centrist candidate for president in 2008 after former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner announced earlier this month that he was bowing out of the race.
In a recent issue of Time magazine, Obama's face fills the cover next to the headline, "Why Barack Obama Could Be The Next President." He is currently on a tour promoting his latest book, "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream."
On Sunday, Obama dismissed notions that he might not be ready to run for president because of his limited experience in national politics. He agreed the job requires a "certain soberness and seriousness" and "can't be something you pursue on the basis of vanity and ambition."
"I'm not sure anyone is ready to be president before they're president," Obama said. "I trust the judgment of the American people.
"We have a long and vigorous process. Should I decide to run, if I ever decide to, I'll be confident that I'll be run through the paces pretty well," Obama said.

Democratic Illinois Sen. Barack Obama speaks to supporters of incumbent Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell at a campaign rally inside Temple University's McGonigle Hall, in Philadelphia, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)
"Given the response I've been getting the last several months, I have thought about the possibility" although not with any seriousness or depth, he said. "My focus is on '06. ... After November 7, I'll sit down and consider it."
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a response that is mostly media driven who see how barren their own farm team has become. IF Obama is the depth of their pool, .. Ouch!
The media Frankenstein awakens. His star is as organic as a plastic bottle.
A two'fer: First woman Pres., First black VP = Liberals wet dream.
But his lemmings are drooling over his presidential aspirations simply because the guy:
* gives allegedly good speeches,
* is black, and
* has the GQ-look down pat.
Wow. Those are some really "serious" credentials.
/s.
And his record is....

What did this guy do before he was elected to the Senate?

Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deval Patrick (L) and U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) listen to questions from reporters at a news conference in Boston, Massachusetts, October 21, 2006. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES)

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., signs copies of his book and campaign literature following the conclusion of a campaign rally for incumbent Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and Democratic Senate candidate Bob Casey inside Temple University's McGonigle Hall in Philadelphia, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) attends a public forum at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston, Massachusetts, October 20, 2006. Obama has been widely discussed as a potential future Democratic candidate for president of the United States. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES)

Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deval Patrick (R) watches as U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) fields questions from reporters at a news conference in Boston, Massachusetts, October 21, 2006. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES)
Get a clue, Obama. You're worthless.
Senators are boring period. Could be why we almost never elect one President.
It's just the media trying to fire up the black vote for the Dems this election. Blacks are very unenthused about the Dems this year.
About time, the Dems' phony promises are really piling up. And "president Obama" is just another one.
Oh, please run Obama. Your debating The Hildabeaste, sKerry, McCain, Edwards, et al in the primary would be terrific!
Oops! I forgot McCain isn't a Democrat. My bad :)
Will voters elect the first Arab-American President?
I'm going to change my enrollment so I can vote for him in the NH Primary.
This is just too, too good.
Beware of someone who offers Utopia. He owns you.
Shades of Joh Kerry!! Here we go again. This will be easy.
Within the limitations of Tennessee politics, you could say that Harold Ford, jr. is a third member of the "new-style white guilt electoral express".
The whites who are turning out in such big numbers for Deval and Barack feel guilty, all right - but not about their ancestors.
They feel guilty about what they, personally, think of blacks right now, in 2006. It's a deep dark secret - wives don't tell husbands, even, and coworkers don't tell each other.
But the white members of the Patrick-Obama-Ford electorate are SO HAPPY to find "one of them" who is smart, can speak in sentences, can hold a job and is not a junkie or a felon - that they are swooning over them.
The wife of an unemployed union drywall guy, after admitting that her hubby was out of work because of illegals and that Deval would make the problem worse, said she was voting for him anyway "because he is so well-spoken".
Compared to what (in her mind)? Compared to all the other ni**ers, that's what.
The times, they are a changin'.
Obama is dangerous...and you really, really have to take apart what he is saying. In most cases, it is nothing! He's a clever con man.
It'll be fun watching him and Hillary tear each other apart.
Sen. Barack Obama acknowledged Sunday he was considering a run for president in 2008
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Run Forest Run!
The guy is full of himself.
ahhh.. you forget.. He's black and has a D next to his name...
I hope Obama runs as well. He could give Hillary a run for her money. He will automatically take most of the "black" vote and the "Oprah-lovers" vote. That might knock Hillary out in the primaries.
Look for Hillary's camp to offer him a presiguous job in her possible cabinet, if he drops out. Or look for him in Fort Marcy Park.
OK FOLKS,
Somebody educate us on his stand on the following issues :
1) War in Iraq
2) War on Terror in general
3) Taxes
4) Health Care
5) Social Security
6) Education
7) Immigration
8) Marriage and the Family
We'll start with these 8 first. We can look at his VOTING RECORD as an indicator.
"So, Senator, as your political consultants, may we respectfully suggest that you change your name from "Barack Hussein Obama" to "James Earl Jones" if you want to have at least a snowflakes chance in Hell of winning this election."
Is Oprah going to give up her day job to be VEEP?
It's an issue with me because blacks with a R next to their name get ridiculed by our media.....
Okay, okay, you've convince us that your a Democrat.
Now be honest and stick to your words.
I know, your too devoted to the party to change now.
He scares me more than Hilary and would be a tougher opponent in a general election than she would be. Probably tougher than Al Gore or Kerry too.
affirmative action at its (pc) best!!!!
if this guy were white....the lib/dems & msm would never even mention him!!!!
but any black republicans...are called oreos, other racist slurs, etc..and ridiculed for straying off the plantation, "and ya know what I'm talkin' about!!"
A black Republican is considered a BISO by the lib's. ; )
Ford can't even handle the current campaign...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h5MZMpXgWI&mode=related&search=
"...his political stock has been rising as a potentially viable centrist candidate for president in 2008..."
Centrist????? Give me a fu_____ break. This guy is as lib-left as they come.
He was a no-name Illinois state Senator until he decided to run for the open seat in 2004.
A little MSM magic, some Rat support, and Voila! Now he's suddenly presidential material.
He has even less experience than John Edwards.
However, the prospect of a Hillary/Kerry/Gore/Obama bloodfight may allow the nomination of a leftie head case like Dennis Kucinich.
Can you imagine a President Obama? I can't, no way
I think he would be a worse candidate than Hillary. While he is more articulate and inspiring, he has several faults.
1) His lack of foreign policy experience 2) His last name is too similar to Osama 3) He only has been in the Senate for 2 years.
I think that McCain or Guiliani would trounce him in both the debates and the polls. Run Obama Run!
Clinton-Obama....so they can shore up the New York and Illinois voters.
That's a GREAT commercial
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