Here and There

After receiving three New York Times op-ed endorsements, to varying degrees of excitement, and a tacit acknowledgement that he is no longer dismissing the idea, it is perhaps time I at least mentioned the possibility of Barack Obama running for president in 2008.

From what I’ve read and heard, I think his candidacy would be a good thing. His views are mostly moderate and agreeable. But perhaps more than anything else, he’s articulate and doesn’t seem to inspire the level of backlash that a “cadidate Clinton” would inspire. (Let’s not discount the near-future certainty of a mountain of dirt uncovered on Obama.)

I’ve never thought his short time in national politics was a handicap for higher office. In fact, it may turn a lot of those anti-Washington voters on to know he’s not as beholden to the ways of the capital city.

Please don’t take this post as any sort of endorsement of Obama as president. It’s more of an approval for his candidacy. I’m glad he has at least opened up to the idea.

UPDATE: I may have found a potential disqualifier for the junior senator from Illinois: his middle name is Hussein. That surely won’t play well in certain parts of the country.

UPDATE 2: Is the Times editorial page requiring its columnists to trumpet support, in whatever form, for Obama? Bob Herbert weighs in for tomorrow’s edition.

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