Barack Obama Makes It Official

We knew it was coming—Barack Obama is running for president and his poll numbers put him in a good position. And it's going to be a first: a serious presidential candidate who was born in the state of Hawaii shortly after the islands became the 50th state. 2008 is going to be a wide open contest for the presidency. Here's the story from Sarah Baxter of Times Online:

AS Barack Obama officially launched his campaign for president in Springfield, Illinois, the home town of Abraham Lincoln, his team was quietly beefing up his security. Mindful of the fate of the 19th-century president, who abolished slavery and was assassinated, friends say that new measures are being taken to ensure Obama’s protection on the campaign trail.

At the Old State Capitol building, comparisons with the gaunt, top-hatted president were inescapable. Springfield is where Obama, like Lincoln, served for eight years as a state legislator before entering national politics.

Thousands of eager spectators thronged the square in freezing temperatures waving Obama ’08 banners as he stepped on the stage and hugged his wife and young daughters, who were bundled up in hats and scarves.

Setting out what is likely to be his signature theme, he urged Americans: “Let’s be the generation” for change. “I know it’s a little chilly, but I’m fired up.”

(snip)

Obama was aware of the personal risks he was taking, Davis said. “He recognises that we have some very extreme elements in this country. His campaign is wisely not discussing their security precautions publicly, but they know Barack’s candidacy creates a dimension that is different to the others and are taking steps to deal with it.”

I may or may not jump on the Barack Obama bandwagon during the Democratic primaries but I celebrate his candidacy. Announcing in Springfield was a smart choice. Lincoln was the most literary and poetic of our presidents and of all the current candidates, Barack Obama is by far a superb wordsmith and speech maker. Even with all of Bill Clinton's gift for politics, Barack Obama has a gift for language that we haven't seen since John Kennedy. The one thing that has already impressed me about Obama is the strong support he's getting from Democrats in Illinois. He's obviously well regarded.

One sobering note is about Barack Obama's security arrangements. I picked up my local paper today to read that Elie Weisel, the author of numerous books and winner of the Nobel Peace prize was attacked in a hotel in San Francisco by a Holocaust denier. We need to be careful. We could easily be entering another era of the crazies coming out of the woodwork. I hope all the candidates have adequate security. And yes, even Nancy Pelosi needs security as well and right wing Republicans should stop playing games. As it is, Republicans have work to do to rebuild their party. Bush's radical conservative agenda has failed our nation and we need to talk seriously about where our nation goes from here. I look forward to hearing what Barack Obama has to say.