Superior to Keyes? I don't know about that. Why is Obama unbeatable? Because he lives in Illinois. Because Illinois is a heavily Democratic state (Gore took it in 2000 55% to 42%). Because Obama's campaign has $10 million in the bank to $0 for Keyes. Because there is less than 90 days to the election. Because the media in Illinois is already coming out against Keyes as a carpet-bagger and will continue to do so. Because Obama may not be the orator that Keyes is but he's no Carol Mosley Braun, either. He's an extremely bright and very articulate man who will go toe to toe with Keyes in any debates that they have. Keyes may win, but don't think that he will win by any margins great enough to blow Obama out of the water. Given this I think that the chance of Keyes pulling it out are zero.
Then how does the media get by with it --- they would have to be criticizing Hillary for having done that at the same time --- are they actually saying Hillary should not be the NY senator?