misunderestimation

It sounds like Senator Barack Obama thinks the recognition of his name could actually be a problem in the 2008 presidential campaign:

“When your name is Barrack Obama, you’re always an underdog in political races. That’s how it was when I ran for the United States Senate,” Obama said Wednesday.

I guess he is talking about his name not being a “traditional” political name (aka. Kennedy, Clinton, Johnson, Smith). I’ve always believed a unique name can be a big plus in a campaign. After all, being saddled with Schwarzenegger hasn’t seemed to hurt Arnold. I figure most people figure if he can spell it, he must have something going on.

For me, the issue of issues is and will continue to be the biggest obstacle in Obama’s presidential bid. This sentiment is echoed in this article from the American Chronicle:

What a wonderful political distraction is Senator Barack Hussein Obama. What continues to amaze me is how our bipartisan obstacle to true political competition continually creates illusions of change and reform. Thus it keeps a grip on Americans’ hope for the future, and preempts public support for more profound political change. Is Obama just another example of how our corrupt political system ingeniously creates candidates to keep hope alive? Is the self-professed progressive Obama the real thing? Is he something other than a conventional politician? I have read many of his speeches and other statements. I applaud his upbeat rhetoric, but few policy details are given.

This idea would seem to say, all we are getting is another version of the same political machine; different name, different face, same result.

What his been interesting so far with Obama is the international reaction to his campaign. Check-out this article from “Uganda’s Leading Website”

But before he gets there, the slightly built man with a Luo heritage must first go through the wringer of US politics and survive the high-wattage scrutiny that will seek to examine every pore on his skin, the nook and cranny of his private and public lives, every wart on his face and every single hair on his chest.
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Having admitted to smoking marijuana and trying cocaine, Obama will need to convince America that he can be trusted to make good choices. More important, Obama must show Americans that his relative inexperience is a strength and not a liability.

Still, the lack of a history can be both a blessing and a curse. Dante Chinni for Yahoo! News has this to say:

Inevitably the “Who is Barack Obama?” stories will come – pseudo-psychological pieces that will put the senator on the couch. They will, as they most always do, look for “key moments” from his life to draw a picture. And what will they find?

Obama’s short time in office means that image will be crafted probably even more than usual from old friends, old tales, and old pieces of writing. Those things may or may not have real significance – and may or may not be flattering – but are easy to draw from and more difficult to rebut.

Right now, Obama enjoys a sweet story line. But at some point, the media will be eager to fill in the missing pages. And when they do, Obama may find that his biggest strength with the media has its problems.

Be prepared for the compelling piece from Obama’s childhood friend, from the person who cuts his hair, from the hospital where he was born, the guy who grooms his dog, the stalker who studies his every move, …

When this one is over, it will make Rosie vs. Trump look like a playground fight.

More misunderestimation