Obama A GQ "Man of the Year"

One Of Four; Cited For His Leadership, Vitality; Ted Kennedy Wrote The Piece About Him In The Magazine

(CBS)  Add GQ "Man of the Year" to President-elect Obama's resume.

Mr. Obama is one of four named in the magazine's latest issue.

GQ Deputy Editor Michael Hainey told CBS News, "A GQ man is a leader, and it's all about how he lives his life, how he inspires people, so it was very obvious that (Mr.) Obama fits that category."

The magazine selected Mr. Obama "months ago," Hainey told co-anchor Harry Smith. "We actually closed the issue mid-October, which was before the election, obviously."

And Mr. Obama was to be a choice win or lose on Election Day.

Why him?

"It's interesting," Hainey explained to Smith. "We had Ted Kennedy write the piece for us in the magazine about the senator. He said the torch has passed to a new generation. He really is. I mean -- he's young, he's vibrant, he's vital -- all those qualities of a GQ guy."

What is it most that seems to impress people most about Mr. Obama?

"I think it's his dynamism," Hainey replied. "He's a very dynamic guy. Very vibrant. Also, just a family man. ... He's young, he's attractive. He's solid, and he is a leader. You can't help but react to him."

GQ is so much about image, and Hainey says Obama "looks great. He looks great whether he's wearing a suit or (as we've seen during the transition) jeans and a baseball cap and shades, taking the girls to school. He's also come to being the sort of like family dad."

Obama, Hainey added, can simply be considered cool, in the mold of JFK or Ronald Reagan: "It's that sense of how you define 'cool.' I think it's a real chemistry. That's what people are reacting to."

Hainey told CBS News the photographer who got the cover shot of Mr. Obama got it during the campaign and says Mr. Obama "was a total pro" and able to hit a smiling pose so well, so quickly, that the whole "session" lasted less than two minutes.

The three other selections for GQ Man of the Year are Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Phelps and Jon Hamm. Each has his own cover.

[doorgunner3]

Credibility2
I don''t know where you got your information?
In all the articles I''ve ever read about Obama they have talked about how he only has five suits that he wears over and over,and the holes in his shoes that he''s already had re-soled once.

[credibility2]

Rather ironic that this man spends so much money on his designer suits and other stuff just for his image and no one bats an eye at his waste of money, but now Palin, well, that''s different now isn''t it?

[iphotografu]

"The three other selections for GQ Man of the Year are Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Phelps and Jon Hamm. Each has his own cover."

Hmmm....wonder which cover will be the first to sell out? :)