Barack Obama Jumps Into 2008 Race

(CBS/AP)  Democratic Sen. Barack Obama Tuesday took the initial step in a presidential bid that could make him the nation's first black to occupy the White House.

Obama filed paperwork for a presidential exploratory committee. He first announced the decision on his Web site, www.barackobama.com.

Obama said on his Web site that he will spend a few weeks "exploring" with his committee, then announce his decision on running for president on Feb. 10 in Illinois, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Fuss.

When the world learns whether Obama will enter the race, his announcement will likely come in a historic city.

Several Obama supporters are being told it will happen in Springfield, Illinois, the hometown of President Lincoln. The day Obama picked, February tenth, is just two days before Lincoln's birthday.

"I certainly didn't expect to find myself in this position a year ago," Obama said in a video posting. "I've been struck by how hungry we all are for a different kind of politics. So I've spent some time thinking about how I could best advance the cause of change and progress that we so desperately need."

Obama, a 45-year-old a little more than two years into his Senate term, is the most inexperienced candidate considering a run for the Democratic nomination. He rose quickly to national prominence, beginning with his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and his election to the Senate that year, but is still an unknown quantity to many voters.

Two best-selling autobiographies — "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream" and "Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance" — have helped fill in the gaps but have still only touched a fraction of the public.

Nonetheless, he ranks as a top contender. His appeal on the stump, his unique background, his opposition to the Iraq war and the fact that he is a fresh face set him apart in a competitive race that also is expected to include front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

Obama's advisers say he's not running as an alternative to anybody, but some Democrats call him the anti-Hillary, CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger reports. Polls show she's a lightening rod, and Obama is well-liked. But one problem for Obama is that he has few national security credentials beyond a couple of years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Other Democrats who have announced a campaign or exploratory committee are 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich.

Both Obama and Clinton have hired senior aides while courting potential supporters in Iowa, New Hampshire and other key states.

Iowa's caucuses will kick off the nominating campaign in January 2008, to be followed by caucuses in Nevada and primaries in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

The moves by the two came as Dodd launched his campaign last week and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson prepared to make an announcement before the end of the month.

Obama and Clinton would clearly be the Democratic field's heavyweights — one vying to be the nation's first black president, the other the country's first female chief executive.

Obama's announcement Tuesday was comparatively low-key, banking on the hype building up to his decision to drive the buzz rather than a speech or high-profile media appearance. He was in Washington on Tuesday but did not plan any public appearances.

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[reclaimtheus]

Step and fetch it leiberman 18, you seriously have a screw loose----you really sound mentally ill, spewing all of your hate-mongering about Blacks and others, you white trash. Go watch your Beverly Hillbillies show until you have something more constructive to say---but that'll take forever, so just forget it.....

[tlcouch-2009]

Bottom line - the good ole boys in the Democratic party are not ready for a woman. Pelosi was enough for them. They are desperate for a candidate - someone with little US Senate experience. They want someone with little if any baggage. That way, in a debate, what will the other party have to question them about? Certainly not their experience. For some of you who do not like Bush, the comment that he was inexperienced has come up. Being governor of one of the largest states, I feel, trumps the experience that Obama has. I follow politics and cannot think of one bill he has sponsored in the US Senate. While the country might be ready for a woman or a minority as President, that is not as important as electing a qualified PERSON.

[jimibear]

"Now with it coming out that, like James Frye, he made up portions of his autobiography it really concerns me that like the Iraq war we will be making decisions about Obama on half truths. Here is a link to the story about the autobiography http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007
/01/chicago_suntime.html"

having read that story, I don't get from it that he made up anything. He says that he changed names to protect privacy and lumped some minor characters together as "composite characters" for efficiency's sake. The one guy whose name he changed that they contacted says he was entirely fair and factual.

This is common practice when writing about real people. It's not the same as James Frye, who made up or exaggerated events, and really, I think that comparison is a distortion of fact.

And I don't agree with you at all that he'd say whatever to get elected. He has given some straight answers to questions other politicians hedge on or avoid altogether: for instance, "Senator, did you ever smoke marijuana?" "Yes, in high school. And I inhaled. That was the point."

He doesn't get points for smoking pot, but then the vast majority of his generation has at one time or another. He does, though, get points for not lying about it or dodging the issue.

Have you read the book you claim he made up parts of, by the way?

[jimibear]

Erica1029, I agree thoroughly with your post. I am white, male and 40; nonetheless, I am really pleased to see the political arena finally starting to look like the country. The rich, white, over-50 and male set have had their shot, and they have really screwed the pooch for the last 40 years or so at least.

I don't think Hillary's electable as president, though, simply because her public persona is abrasive to many people. Obama, on the other hand, is smooth, articulate and likeable. I think that an Obama presidency with Clinton in the VP role would be great. Her political experience would negate many of the charges of unpreparedness against Obama, and he would be the "sugar coating on her bitter pill", so to speak. In addition, as often the VP gets tasked with saying the things the pres would like to say but can't, her forthright personality would be an asset there.

Speaking of the inexperience issue, I don't think you can prepare to be president; you either have what it takes or you don't. (Bush doesn't.) And if you have the intelligence, compassion and principles, and a decent education, then I tend to think that a lot of experience in the cesspool of Washington politics will do nothing to improve you and may well corrupt you.

[jimibear]

(cont.)

And there are so many more. As someone pointed out the other day, there seems to be a disconnect where some people don't realize that sounding stupid very often means being stupid.

Bush is by far the most stupid man to occupy the Oval Office in my lifetime, and if recordings and writings are any basis, he is the dumbest president ever. This should come as news to no one, Lieberman.

But then, as already established, your mind and the outside world exist independently of one another. You are, in all seriousness, sorely in need of some good mental hygiene.

[jimibear]

(cont.)

Courage and guts: hmmmm, how about using dad's influence to get into the air national guard and not even showing up for that? What courage does it take to send other peoples' children to die to make yourself richer? Bold-faced gall, sure, but not courage. And the only guts associated with this administration are the American ones being spilled in Iraqi sand thanks to their evil war-mongering.

Intelligence? Oh God. Lieberman, why do you make this so easy?

"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."

"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country."

"They misunderestimated me."

"Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?"

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."

[jimibear]

Ah, once again Lieberman chimes in with the voice of stupidity and hate. In a way, there's something reassuring about someone who's so consistently wrong. For one, this is an unstable world lacking in constancy, and it's nice to know some things never change. For another, it gives one a moral compass: in any decision, you have but to ask, "Would Lieberman agree with it?" and if the answer is "No", you are on the right track.

Let's discuss integrity, shall we? Name me a NeoCon with any. Bush? Hah! Cheney? Spare me. The Republicans have re-defined corruption, taking it to a scale un-dreamed of in history. Their story on Iraq, just to take one example, changes so often I get whiplash trying to follow the new version of "the truth". They'd be flip-floppers if they slowed down enough from the full spin they are actually in.

[erica1029]

For all those who oppose my opinion, I feel it takes integrity, courage, guts, and intelligence to go against a soceity's norm. For the chauvinist and racist people out there, it's time to live in the present and accept change. It was a rich, white, man who living out his daddy's revenge killed thousands of our citizens. Those men were somebody's daddy, son, husband, brother, friend, etc. Yes I can just see Bush's integrity, courage, guts, and intelligence oozing out of his decisions. How about his latest speech where he admits his mistakes and informs the people that we must pay for them. As far as Mrs. Clinton goes and her home situation, that just shows that she too goes through hard times like a majority of the US Households, but she is able to hold it together and keep it professional. Under pressure she does not break and she still remained a public figure despite her hardships. Personally she already has my vote. Obama is a new name just emerging and I was just commenting on how wonderful it is that I will live to see the day where a woman and a black man are candidates for Presidency. For those who do not think that is a wonderful leap for our nation, you are delusional and can not handle change.

[hungry1968]

Everyone is talking about his lack of experience. Let's see what experienced politicians we have now - Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Bolton....

It seems to me the air here is quite stale and needs some freshening up....

[hungry1968]

Ever hear of integrity, courage, guts and intelligence, Erica? Both of your excited choices lack them all.
Posted by lieberman18 at 09:02 AM : Jan 17, 2007

Well let's look at President Bush using your criteria:
Integrity - the guy is a chronic and habitual liar.
Courage and guts - yeah that's why he joined the National Guard to avoid Vietnam. He's sooo brave.
Intelligence - have you ever heard him speak? 6 years later and I'm still waiting for him to make his first good decision.