Almost anyone who has met Barack Obama will tell you he’s charismatic and warm, but not giddy.
“My wife and I have tried not to get caught up in the hype,” Obama said.
But there’s no denying that since he rocked the Democratic National Convention in 2004 with an impassioned speech about America, his life has changed.
For one, he became an instant political star–in Chicago, in Washington and in Hollywood.
Obama says he appreciates the support he’s been shown by Hollywood Democrats. (Obama counts George Clooney and Bono as friends.)
“There are some celebrities who have really done their homework and know what they are talking about and are terrific advocates for justice and peace and opportunity around the world,” he said.
Here’s what the stars have said about the senator.
“It would be a privilege to support a guy like that. In my adult life, there have been so few people in the political spectrum that I have really gotten excited about. I think he’s got the goods.”
Edward Norton
“If Senator Obama became presidential candidate Obama, it would be the most electrifying thing to happen to the Democratic Party since Kennedy.”
George Clooney
Oprah Winfrey told Obama that she would like people to put their energies behind “someone who would make a difference, and that would be you.”
CAMPAIGN OBSTACLE COURSE
The hype surrounding Barack Obama has made him a political rock star, but a presidential run would not be without challenges. Here’s a look at some of the obstacles he faces.
— Lack of experience
Obama has said the campaign itself–how he managed it, his position on issues and his framing of a vision for the country–would address that issue. “That experience question would be answered at the end of the campaign,” he said.
“The test of leadership in my mind is not going to be what’s on a paper resume,” Obama said. Vice President Dick Cheney, a former defense secretary, and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld “had the best resume on paper of any foreign policy team, and the result has been what I consider to be one of the biggest foreign policy mistakes in our history,” Obama said.
— Rezko connection
Obama has acknowledged “it was stupid” of him to get involved in the purchase of a strip of property adjoining his $1.65 million home from Antoin “Tony” Rezko, who owned a vacant lot next door. Rezko, a political insider and fundraiser, was indicted in October on charges of trying to extort campaign donations and kickbacks from firms seeking state business. Rezko has pleaded not guilty.
“I am the first one to acknowledge that it was a boneheaded move … given that he was already under a cloud of concern.”
— Cocaine use
Long before the national media spotlight began to shine on every twist and turn of his life’s journey, Obama had this to say about himself: “Junkie. Pothead. That’s where I’d been headed: the final, fatal role of the young would-be black man. … I got high [to] push questions of who I was out of my mind.”
Through his memoir written 11 years ago, “Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance,” Obama admitted trying cocaine. What remains to be seen is whether the candor he offered in his early memoir will be greeted with a new-style acceptance by voters.
“I believe what the country is looking for is someone who is open, honest and candid about themselves, rather than someone who seems endlessly driven by polls or focus groups,” said Robert Gibbs, Obama’s spokesman.
— Fundraising ability
Obama has said he was not concerned about being able to compete either in fundraising or in staffing should he enter the race. “I don’t want it to sound like raising $50 million to $60 million is easy,” he said. “It’s hard, but I think it’s something that we could do.”
— Hillary Clinton
Last month, Obama called potential Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, 59, a “tough, disciplined, smart, intelligent public servant.” But, compared to Clinton, he maintained he was able to look at “some issues differently as a consequence of being of a slightly different generation.”
When asked his assessment of Clinton, Obama said, “I think she’d be a capable president.” Obama said, however, that he had no interest in being what he called “the un-Hillary”–a reference to serving as a standard-bearer for Democrats looking for an alternative to Clinton.
— Republican contenders
Speaking of a potential matchup with Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Obama said he was under no illusions about how a GOP presidential campaign would be run against him. “War hero against snot-nosed rookie,” Obama said.
— Tribune, Washington Post
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BARACK’S BIO
– Obama was born in Hawaii on Aug. 4, 1961.
– His father was from Kenya, his mother from a small town in Kansas.
– His father returned to Kenya when Obama was 2. Barack grew up with his mother in Hawaii, and for a few years in Indonesia.
– Obama graduated from Columbia University in 1983.
– In 1985, he moved to Chicago, where he became a community organizer on the South Side.
– In 1991, he earned his law degree from Harvard Law School, where he served as the first African-American editor of the law review.
– Soon after, he returned to Chicago to practice as a civil rights lawyer and teach constitutional law.
– He was elected in 1996 to the Illinois state Senate, where he served until running for the U.S. Senate in 2004.
– He gave the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 2004 while still only a Senate candidate.
– He was the surprise winner of the Democratic primary that year and got a break shortly after the primary when the Republican nominee withdrew from the race because of a scandal.
– Obama easily won against the new GOP nominee, Alan Keyes.
– Obama, his wife, Michelle, and his two daughters, Malia, 8, and Sasha, 5, live on the South Side.
— The Washington Post, barackobama.com
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SOUND BITES
Sen. Barack Obama did an interview last year with The Associated Press. Some excerpts:
On his cigarette habit (at least as of late November):
“I’m struggling with those. I’ve quit before. It’s one of those habits that creep up when you’re stressed, and you have to shake it off. It’s not something I’m proud of.”
On dealing with fame:
“In some ways, because it has happened so quickly or maybe because I don’t have much sense, I haven’t had the opportunity to get too freaked out about it.”
On African-Americans’ reaction to his potential presidential bid:
“It’s interesting that the people who are most hesitant about this oftentimes are African-Americans because they feel protective of me. They’re either concerned about the attacks I’d be subjected to or they are skeptical oftentimes that America is prepared to elect a black president.”
