Why Barack Obama?

It's very early in the game but Barack Obama is an interesting candidate. Maybe at this point it's more because the rest of the field is so damn predictable than anything else but, I have to say that not since Bill Clinton have I been compelled to watch a candidate as closely as I have Senator Obama. Yesterday he stepped right in it with his "wasted lives" comment about soldiers who have been killed in Iraq. Without missing a beat he made all the right steps to rectify the situation. It was really just a misstatement and resolved quickly, to my satisfaction anyway. This is an insight into the man, not something huge but something a little more raw than the usual stuff and should be considered. It's a rookie error and it's good to come clean and learn this lesson early. After all look at what happened to Senator Kerry on a similar issue or Senator Biden the day after his announcement. Both anything but rookies and it finished off one and it remains to be seen with the other.
Obviously the big question is can a African American be elected? Incidentally, I'm not particularly moved by the African American argument that Obama has not had the proper experience to represent true African Americans. He no doubt has experienced discrimination and is well aware of it's history in this country. Empathy can go along way to fill the gap if there is one. I'm not African American so I suspect I may be missing the point but two years from now I think that Senator Obama will have swayed a lot of people in this country regardless of their backgrounds.
Furthermore, I think that every person who voted for Vice President Gore, who did win the popular vote in the last election, could theoretically vote for Senator Obama. I'm not saying the country has suddenly gone color blind but the disgust factor with the current administration is so strong that Senator Obama may just provide the best alternative at the right time.
A long shot? Absolutely but, with Hillary Clinton and John Edwards as his chief Democratic rivals it's not that unlikely he could get the Democratic nomination. Unfortunately for them they each represent too much of the past . More than at any time I can remember, people want something new and different in Washington. Senator Clinton is well known enough for people to recognize that she is currently having to stretch beyond what she really is to measure up to the bar recently raised by Senator Obama. And people don't even want to think about what her predicament in her husbands indiscretions and cover up tells them. This still haunts conservatives as well as liberals, and everyone in between for that matter.
Senator Edwards is just plainly an average politician living in a 28000 square foot house worried about the poor Hurricane Katrina victims. His best chances are at a V.P slot but highly improbable.
On the Republican side Senator McCain will likely get the nod unless Mayor Giuliani becomes even more Republican than he seems to be trying to be lately. Just how good is he anyway? I don't believe he would be in contention had he been the mayor of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit. No doubt he did a lot of good for New York but in a New York minute the rest of the country could pick him apart for lack of experience. And if your a pro Iraq War guy and you have a choice between Giuliani and McCain, who are you going to vote for? So if it's McCain and Obama, I think Obama has a chance.
There is of course that other outcome which personally I don't care for, being a Clinton/Obama ticket. As time rolls on it will become more apparent how difficult Senator Obama's goal really is. Unfortunately his ultra liberal voting record is sure to get in the way. I also believe that Senator Clinton will realize that Senator Obama nicely counteracts her weaknesses. But I do think that it would be a hard pill to swallow for Obama.
A whole lot can happen between now and the election but for now, why have I like so many others, near irrationally taken to Barack Obama? That's simple, he's believable. It's worth your time to watch him because you think what he says is truthful. You keep listening and it just keeps sounding better and better and before you know it your even feeling hopeful again and that's a good feeling. So for the sake of hope I'm watching him very closely. I know he has a very non traditional background to say the least but traditional backgrounds sure didn't get us much with the current administration. (to say the least)