Honestly, Obama is just a hot air balloon raised to the heavens by fawning reporters and the media. He actually will represent African Americans and indeed all Americans in exactly the wrong way. Even his much touted style is nothing more than a facade. In his most praised speech on race, his most memorable comment was that he would never abandon Wright. Look now. This man is like a cat, always doing what he might do to get elected, not at all because of his personal convictions.

Obama aint ready yet. Ya cant just give a guy the keys to America, he's too young. I want a president that got some experience, not a trainee on the job.

If your political ideology is in the realm of the extreme left, this guy is your man. Another in a long line of Dems summed up as all style and no substsance. UPDATE: Obama, in an interview with the Des Moines Register right afterward, told the paper, ''I was actually upset with myself when I said that, because I never use that term,'' he said. ''Their sacrifices are never wasted. . . . What I meant to say was those sacrifices have not been honored by the same attention to strategy, diplomacy and honesty on the part of civilian leadership that would give them a clear mission."...This in response to his insulting statement that the lives of our brave soldiers and Marines in Iraq had been "wasted".

Way too smart. . .way too interesting. . .way too honest for the job. . .America isn't ready for anyone except a prez who rocks you to sleep at night telling you fantasies about our safety, security, future, and place in the world. . .

This guy is attractive but untested. It might be a mistake for him to move too soon.

I don't care the color of his skin. He is decent but a neo-liberal.

It seems to me that most of the consideration of Obama's candidacy is about the symbolic importance of having a black nominee for the White House to show that America is progressive. There is very little serious consideration of his credentials or ideas. America is eager to demonstrate that it is progressive, when in reality they are playing catch-up. Half of the members of the G8 have had a female head of state and in most of the western world race is hardly an issue in political life.

Doesn't have enough experience. Plain and Simple. Plus, in recent polls he trails Hillary Clinton by 40% in the African American vote.

Tough one. May not be ready in 2008, and if the Dems regain the White House then he's realistically looking at 2016. If he's interested, this will be something of a decision year for him.

UPDATE: Now that he's declared, he's the clear challenger to Clinton, at this early stage of things. Win or lose the nomination, this is probably a good political move on his part. His record in the Senate is good, if not spectacular, and running now raises an already high profile. Long tenures in the Senate are not traditionally helpful to Presidential aspirants, so a run now, even with only 2 years under his belt, makes sense.

His electoral popularity outside Illinois and with several key Democrat constituencies remains to be tested.

He'll never win with that name! He might have a chance as a running mate with Clinton.

I am upgrading my rating for Barack Obama. I've thought more about his main weakness which is his minimal experience. I don't really think that is going to be a strong issue in the 2008 presidential election. In fact, his "freshness" may be very appealing to first-time voters. We certainly did not benefit from the present President's experience as Governor of Texas. It could be that Obama will bring in some very intelligent and forward-thinking people as advisors and cabinet members into the White House.

Unfortunatley his race and his name would be a disadvantage for him Obama
sound too close to Osama The Souther States and to a lesser extent the Mid-West and Rockie Mountain States will
not support a Black man for President or even VP

I think He's ready...he is BY FAR the most dynamic candidate either party has to offer.

Smart, Articulate, No non-sense, common sense to the USA's interest's. He will follow a whole new direction for the USA!

The world, including America's allies, no longer trusts or respect the US. Obama is the most likely to restore our faith in this once great nation. Despite what the Neo cons might say, in the next 20 years America is going to need all the support it can muster from European nations. May the good and brave Americans heed this advice.

I think he'd do about as well as Edwards in 2004, unless he got a lot more free publicity for being black.
Right now: Better than Hillary,
More electable than Kerry or
Gore?
Battleing Feingold from the
right?
I can't wait 'till Iowa and New Hampshire.

Excellent candidate. Great.

Certainly a rising star, but he's not ready yet. Possible VP contender, but it's doubtful he will even be in the running for the top spot in 2008.

he's probably the best GUY for the job. ONly second to Hillary

Senators Obama and McCain are the only two candidates I'd even consider voting for in '08. It's too bad that in our country's broken political landscape that these two good men would not run together. What a great third party ticket that would be. I think it would be a revolutionary and progressive step for the American political process if they did and talk about a landslide.

Has the right tempermant to be an effective leader, but too soon in 2008. need a 2nd term in the senate to see how things get done in Washington.

Obama is the future of the Dem. party. And will be the first President of color in this country. I would wholeheartedly support a ticket of John Edwards for Pres. & Obama for Vice. Pres.

Definitely a person to keep our eye on for 2012. The pros to the next election: his newness on the national scene means he has not gotten tangled up with and compromised by special interests. The con - he probably can't win the next election given his inexperience and lack of track record in the senate.

Excellent Campaigner but too soon for 2008 .Probably a good bet for 2016 if he's still around.

He just got elected to the Senate! Can we WAIT a little bit, like 2012 or 2016, before we think about running him?

He's still wet behind the ears, and some of his glow has faded now that he is actually in office and not running simply on his speech making ability (which is impressive). I'm sure there will be some that will push for him to run, and some that will push for him to be a running mate, but I don't see him as either.

Wait till 2012 2016 before running.

He's got the right stuff, but probably not quite enough seasoning. Possible VP with an experienced ticket leader (Hillary, Gore or a couple of others). I like him a LOT for 2008 or 2012.

Only exaggerating a bit when I say that in 2004, Barack Obama was able to sweep up more people up in a single speech than Kerry was able to do in 1000 speeches. Obama has the charisma to win votes, but I believe he would need more Congressional experience for people to be truly comfortable fast-tracking him to a serious Presidential run. However, such fast-tracking for someone new to Congress isn't unprecedented, so I could be underestimating his chances in 2008.

I agree with caligula, probalby not 2008, but maybe a little later. He is also fairly moderate as well, God knows we need a moderate.

Not yet, but maybe the 2008 VP candidate. He has only been a Senator for 6 months, but is extremely popular. I picture a Hillary and Obama ticket in 2008, and this has a possibility to give the Democrats the power of the White House for the next 16 years.

obama will be a great candidate after he serves 12 or more years in the senate. he's a star now, but doesn't have the experience needed. assuming he doesn't lose his luster, i think he will become the first black president.

What's the deal with this guy? He was the only successful Democrat during the '04 election - and he ran basically unopposed. I've heard a rumor that this guy is a moderate, so that makes him electable in a general elction but not a Democrat primary. But we know nothing about this guy. Remember John Edwards was supposed to be some young star out of nowhere and he was a big time dud. ----The fact that he and Edwards are so high at the top of this list shows just how weak the Democratic party is right now. ----Besides senators don't win the White House, governors do.

2012 or 2016

Gave one well-rehearsed speech at the Democratic National Convention and everyone is impressed. The press oohs and ahhs over him because he is black and doesn't talk like a rapper. He's not really even State Senate material, and won only because he had no opposition in Illinois.

The guy just got elected to the U.S. Senate for his first term ever - and he's already a part of this conversation? The Democratic Party poured a ton of money into his election campaign, I believe, partly due to the fact that they see him as a future contender/party leader. He's mainstream, educated, wholesome looking, well-spoken, scandal-free and African-American. Fine. But he's also untested on the national and international levels, regardless of the fact that he's the current shiney poster boy for the Democratic Party.

I KIND OF LIKE HIM,BUT HE HASNT DONE ANYTHING OF IMPORTANCE TO PROVE HE DESERVES A CHANCE

Too soon, but his time will come. 'Barack Obama For President, 2012', that has got a nice ring to it.

Seems like the consensus here is that while Obama is certainly interesting, his experience is lacking (well, everyone except for some judgmental, wife-beating redneck from a red state that borders Mexico). Do you know what his experience is? He has no experience as an elected official, but plenty of credentials (work and academic) to back him up. I think that Obama will be a major player in future years. He is not too young for the post, by the way. He's 43 years old. Hmmm. Name some other Presidents elected around that age. TR, Kennedy, Clinton (3 greats, BTW). By the way, what does it take for someone not to be described based on black, white, etc.? Obama is not black. His mother is white. Colin Powell and Tiger Woods are not black either. Let's lose the colors, folks. After all, I'm not even white. I'm a kind of pinkish color that's tough to describe.

Not enough experience.

Another big-time loser.

Not for 2008. He will need to serve one full-term in the Senate and develop a track record before he will be taken seriously as a national candidate.

Maybe in time - but I don't think by 2008. He's still young and actually looks even younger than he is. I think maybe a better ticket would be Evan Bayh with Barack Obama as his running mate.

I think he would be good.

Being just the third black elected to the Senate since Reconstruction is a huge accomplishment for Obama, and will likely propel him into the spotlight in a couple of years. However, in when the primaries come around, he will only be halfway through his first term in the federal government. Appears to be a likable person, but is the United States really ready for a minority President.

Possibly. I don't know if he'll run in '08 though. But I agree with PBeaver that he won't win- Obama's a show horse, not a work horse.

Sen. Obama made a solid debut in the national stage as the keynote speaker in the 2004 Democratic nomination. As a candidate, he would provide the Democrats with a cohesive vision that was lacking in John Kerry. Although he's only in his first term representing Illinois in the Senate, I am certain that people are already encouraging him to make a run for the Top Job. Intelligent, articulate and charismatic, Obama would bring a lot to the Democratic ticket. However, I don't think he'll be ready to make a national run in 4 years. Watch him though, he's a top prospect within the party.

Two pertinent questions: Who was the last US Senator elected President? Where does Barack stand on mainstream democrat issues? Lookin' like a 2. Bright future, much potential, not presidential material for a long time.

Not yet.

Black guy who just mopped the floor with Republican candidate Alan Keyes in the Illinois senate race. Not very well known yet, but would make an interesting candidate. Probably help the DEMS return to their party base, the middle class, minorities, and labor. Plus Senator-elect Obama comes from a midwestern state and that in itself would help more than a northeastern liberal such as Kerry or Hillary Clinton. As a Republican I admire Senator-elect Obama. He would be a worty opponent and really make my party work for the election.