obama watch

There is something about this man. He's been compared to Robert Kennedy, called a rock star, and has become a beacon of hope for thousands of Democrats looking for a new kind of candidate. I, like so many others, didn't know who he was until I heard his speech at the Democratic National convention. I was hooked and have been watching him ever since.

I worry that he'll get caught in a whirlwind of celebrity and will become a caricature. I worry that the right will find ways to spin him into doubt (his middle name is Hussein - what will they do with that??) But from what I've seen of him, he is honest and forthright and just really, really smart and should be able to handle games like that in a way to stay true.

He hasn't announced any candidacy yet (have you seen his piece on ESPN?? LOL!!!). But he did travel to New Hampshire this weekend, as reported by Perry Bacon Jr. in the Times.

"A fundraiser for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, originally intended for about 500 people, sold more than 1500 tickets to people from 13 states — and that didn't include the more than 100 reporters who showed up. Seven hundred came to another event to hear Obama speak and sign copies of his best-selling book. "It harkens back to RFK," said Lou D'Allesandro, a New Hampshire state senator, "all of the new people coming out. And this phenomenon is country-wide."

Here he is on The Daily Show last year in November. He is so awesome. I love his ease and humor and his obvious intelligence. He gets it, you know? I'd love to have dinner with him. I'm still hoping. I think he's the real deal. The next few years will be a breath of fresh air to watch.