Posted on 10/15/2006 8:52:00 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Senator Barack Obama, a rising political star who generates extensive media coverage, is reportedly leaving the door open to a 2008 presidential run.
The Democratic lawmaker appears on Time magazine's cover, coinciding with the release of his latest book, "The Audacity of Hope," which sets out his political views.
Asked if he will enter the race for the White House once November's midterm legislative elections are out of the way, Obama, 45, avoids offering a definitive answer, but appears to be more seriously weighing the idea.
"When the election is over and my book tour is done, I will think about how I can be most useful to the country and how I can reconcile that with being a good dad and a good husband," he is quoted as saying by Time.
"I haven't completely decided or unraveled that puzzle yet," said Obama, the only African-American currently serving in the US Senate.
Obama generates strong enthusiasm among Democratic party activists but some pundits have warned that a presidential run in 2008 might be too much too soon for the young and inexperienced senator. Others believe that the United States may not be quite ready for a black president.
In an excerpt from his new book, Obama argued that progressives should not shy away from referring to religion and faith in political discussions.
"Over the long haul, I think we make a mistake when we fail to acknowledge the power of faith in the lives of the American people, and so avoid joining a serious debate about how to reconcile faith with our modern, pluralistic democracy," Obama writes in the passage of his book carried in Time.
Such an approach is "bad politics" and cedes ground to partisans on the right, he said.
"When we abandon the field of religious discourse -- when we ignore the debate about what it means to be a good Christian or Muslim or Jew; when we discuss religion only in the negative sense of where or how it should not be practiced ... others will fill the vacuum," he said.
.
And the most important reason....
3) He does good in the polls.
Somewhere.
Hillary needs Hispanic votes - the african american vote is locked up by the Dems already. its Richardson for VP.
He's an empty suit with exactly what accomplishments in the US Senate?
I will be the bad guy, and rule out his Presidential run for him : )
those voters are already Dems.
Osama is black? In the old days, he is what we (black or white) would have referred to as "high yellow."
So he'd be out of the White House by 2011, then.
And those things have what to do with leading a country of 300 million in a time of war?
"He's young.
He's attractive.
He's a communist
He's a real Namma Jamma : )
I wonder if Obama will have the same luck as the other Black Democratic aspirants for president?
Namma Jamma? Is that anything similar to a macca? You're on a slippery slope...lol.
Run Osama, run. Err..I mean Obama.
Granted...but Obama is the kind of guy who lights up Oprah...I think she looks at him as a "JFK Jr." for the African-American set. He does have sparkle....
Just having a bit of fun : )
Love your home page.
It's too late at night for eye-candy for me.
Is he Muslim?
Think he's waiting to be selected as their VP?
YOU'VE GOT THAT RIGHT, ENOUGH ALREADY!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.