Note Obama's pedigree. What was he, editor of Harvard Law Review? This means he is a true believer. He is a good person, but his politics are toxic. I think the primary long-term antidote is to keep politics honest, while avoiding the appearance of demonizing. With subtlety, neutralize the concept of stealth liberal candidates.
He certainly IS electrifying. I had a local lawyer come in to my office today, she's a prominent Democrat, and her parents are of East Indian heritage, she was practically gushing about the man. She was ready to elect him President in four years!
Being as my job requires me to be fairly non-partisan, she doesn't know my politics, but she was impressed that I knew a lot of facts about him. I asked if she thought that he would get some resentment from American blacks who were the descendants of slaves, for whom affirmative action was created as a remedy, she didn't think so. Of course, she benefitted from the same programs, even though her ancestors did not suffer from Jim Crow laws in this country.
I strongly suspect that Obama will win his Senate race, by the time 2008 rolls around, we will have three-plus years of his voting record to use against him. Maybe it won't be as bad as we fear.