Obama: first mention of him on the SDMB?

[Cyberhwk]

@Kal

Is this it? Barack Obama - future President?

NOTE: None of this is meant as criticism, but just a sign of how far we’ve come in only FOUR YEARS.

@ShockingAlberto

I could see Obama coming in as a VP candidate in '08. He’ll play a good John Edwards - the charisma of the group, the spokesman. But by the '08 election, he won’t have the political experience to convince the voters he should be running the country. Perhaps after four to eight years of being Vice President, but not before then.

@BrainGlutton

No, he can likely keep his Senate seat indefinitely. I’m just saying he’s not a good presidential prospect.

@John_Mace

Yeah, nominate two Senators, one from the Northeast*, the othe a one-termer. That’ll surely win the election!!

Obama would add absolutely nothing to a Democratic ticket. I won’t even get into the Hillary situation.

@furt

He’s a senator. Strike one.

From a state that’s already solidly dem. Strike two.

He’s being anointed with this can’t-miss messianic crap way too early. It makes him a political target for the GOP, and burdens normal development. Just because you have a top prospect doesn’t mean you stick him in the lineup. Strike three.

If you’re looking for near-term African American candidates, Harold Ford’s a better choice.

@Stoid

Is America ready to elect a black man? Man, that would be great.

But I’m not holding my breath.

@John_Mace

I don’t see a Black Democract winning the presidency. What additional consituency would he bring to the table? We’ll see a Black Repblican president first.