A Refresher on Obama's Senate Race

(CBS)

From CBS News National Correspondent Dean Reynolds, who's covering the Obama campaign:

Barack Obama likes to tout his electability before the large crowds he draws here in Iowa. The statement is supposed to draw a contrast with Sen. Hillary Clinton who, polls show, has very high negatives among the electorate. Obama recalls carrying some of the "reddest" districts in his Illinois Senate race back in 2004. While it is true that Obama won in a landslide, his opponents had a lot to do with it.

A little history.

Obama won the Democratic Party senatorial primary after one of the leading candidates imploded in a mess of divorce papers strategically leaked by his ex-wife.

Obama then faced the Republican Party challenger, Jack Ryan, a tall, good-looking, wealthy guy who spent time teaching at inner city schools after making his fortune. Unfortunately for Ryan, he also spent time frequenting some shady bars in Paris where live sex acts were apparently part of the draw. Nor did it help that Ryan's ex-wife alleged that he urged her to participate in said acts when they were married.

Ryan, after first stating that he had no intention of withdrawing from the race, changed his mind and left after the party hierarchy abandoned him.

Then the party was left with no candidate and began plumbing the shallows for someone to run against Obama, who by then was something of a political rock star after his spectacular oration at the Democratic Party national convention in Boston. No one raised a hand.

The Illinois Republican Party has been in something of a valley for the past few years and it was no surprise that party chieftains had a hard time coming up with someone willing -- and able -- to make a race of it.

It turned out that no Republican from Illinois wanted to.

So the party looked ... and looked... and finally found somebody -- in Maryland.

Alan Keyes, the perennial presidential candidate. An African-American in the Clarence Thomas mold. Conservative and pro-life, Keyes could also give one heckuva speech. Unfortunately, very few people wanted to hear him.

Yes, he moved to an apartment in Calumet City to show his -- not very deep -- Illinois roots. Frankly, Keyes could have moved into the Water Tower on Michigan Avenue in Chicago and it would not have helped. He lost the election. Big time, as Dick Cheney might put it.

So when Barack Obama talks about electability, one should know that he has not really been tested.

[croft777]

I believe that Clintons aim toward healthcare for all is way passed due.Its not a new idea, there are other countries such as Canada who have benefitted from this.Who wouldn''t want everyone to have the same health benefits? I''ve seen enough of everyday people without health insurance.Do we want America full of ill people? Because that is whats happening.Whats going on in the other parts of the world such as Pakistan, its sad. But remember,its not America, we need to worry about the problems here first,we need to be a strong country before we can help others out.Theres been to many issues here that have been placed on the back burner, such as health insurance, the many American jobs that have been sent over seas for so long that we are now dependent on these other countries.I think its sad that greed has placed us in this position. We need American products produced here.If they want to produce the products over seas for pennies, then won''t they sell them over seas for pennies, instead of bringing the products over here and charging outrages prices.Tax these companies big time.

[bbword-2009]

Thank you for the information about Barack Obama''s landslide Senate Race. What strikes me is the amount of enthusiasm he is now receiving under entirely different circumstances for higher stakes and formidable competition. I would say that Obama''s election history, as stated in your article, throws light on how far he has come and the seed of hope that continues to grow exponentially.

[wthcb]

I''m embarrassed for you.

[mg1220]

Obama has the POTENTIAL to have the right kind of experience. Unfortunately, now is not the time and the Oval Office is not the place to be earning and learning that experience. No president can be perfect but America cannot go from one extreme (GWBush) to another extreme (BHObama). The experienced person can fail and there is greater probability that an Inexperienced person would fail.
One judgment call on the Iraq issue does NOT mean Obama would have good judgments on a gamut of complex issues. He only has very limited experience to showcase an array of judgment calls, which did not even do that except showcase tasks that he did just as he ought to. America does not live by "Iraq" alone.
His policies are hybrids from policies that have been strongly initiated by and identified with his rivals. He talks of what%u2019s wrong with past policies and other candidates%u2019 policies but does not have an original policy of his own. He wants people to look only to the future because he has INsufficient past to substantiate the rhetoric he gives in the present. Obama uses hope in manipulation of a people''s desperation.

[dndobson-2009]

Well to be air then, Clinton really only was able to be a New York Senator thanks to the fact that she was married to Bill Clinton. So she really hasn''t been fairly tested. She''s never had to stand on her own. But of course this is all absurd. Each succeeded in their own way at the right time and place. Being able to take advantage of opportunities is not a bad thing until you start to unfairly exploit other people for your own gain. That''s why the negative campaigning has hurt Hillary.

[decider11]

What change does Obama really mean?
Cahnge the whole structure of government in Washington? Change the democratic process? Driving the course of the USA into the future, I would pick an experienced, tested, and intelligent driver anytime over somebody who just by luck/circumstance happened not to vote for Iraq. It is hypocritical to use that as a lithmus test and to claim better judgemment just on 1 vote. That would be like saying Bush is a good president because he decides and stays the course. The world is more complex than that. Hillary will be able to achieve more than the Obama. His words of change will be nothing more than empty promises(anything to get elected). He is not ready, and he is not the best candidate, not even the top 3 (Behind Clinton, McCain, and Biden. Obama supporters, ask yourselves-- what chage is he actually talking about and how is he going to get it done? Otherwise you are just like mindless drone chantin change, change, change... eating up the propaganda by Axelrod (Obama''s Karl Rove).

[decider11]

What change does Obama really mean?
Cahnge the whole structure of government in Washington? Change the democratic process? Driving the course of the USA into the future, I would pick an experienced, tested, and intelligent driver anytime over somebody who just by luck/circumstance happened not to vote for Iraq. It is hypocritical to use that as a lithmus test and to claim better judgemment just on 1 vote. That would be like saying Bush is a good president because he decides and stays the course. The world is more complex than that. Hillary will be able to achieve more than the Obama. His words of change will be nothing more than empty promises(anything to get elected). He is not ready, and he is not the best candidate, not even the top 3 (Behind Clinton, McCain, and Biden. Obama supporters, ask yourselves-- what chage is he actually talking about and how is he going to get it done? Otherwise you are just like mindless drone chantin change, change, change... eating up the propaganda by Axelrod (Obama''s Karl Rove).

[formlessness-2009]

Obama won that election because of his integrity, his honesty, his judgement and the way he talked to us. I remember it well, i was working for my college newspaper and we endorsed Mr. Obama. Now you should''ve pointed out that the republicans used all of their dirty tricks to try and blemish Obama, but they couldn''t which to me says he has been through the GOP gauntlet and not only came out on top he surged to national acclaim because of his victory. Now I know the real reason you''re writing this article, and it''s not going to happen, no matter how much the clinton''s pay you to write this trash, we see right through it.

Obama ''08 or else it''s too late

[jkojs]

NO more Clinton dynasty and corrupted Health Industry.
Its time to end 20 years of Clinton/Bush political
dynasty.

!!! ITS TIME FOR CHANGE !!!

BARACK OBAMA WAS RIGHT ON IRAQ.

BARACK OBAMA WAS RIGHT ON IRAN.

BARACK OBAMA WAS RIGHT ON PAKISTAN.

BARACK OBAMA HAS RIGHT JUDGEMENT FROM THE BEGINNING.

BARACK OBAMA''s JUDGEMENT TRIUMPHS OVER HILLARY''S WRONG
EXPERIENCE.


!!! VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA !!!

[ladyvet1]

Wow, did your article miss the mark! Skinny kid biracial kid, funny name, no father, no connections. Moves to Chicago without knowing a soul and within some years becomes the brightest shining star in the state. And does it without losing his principles and morals. This writer probably thinks someone "gave" Obama the Harvard Law Review president position as well.

Admit it, man, you''ve never seen anyone like this before. He''s the real thing. And he''s going to be one of the best Presidents we''ve ever had. The right man for the time.