I think Barack Obama Can Win in 2008

#1
Race is important to voters. It shouldn't be, but it is.

The late Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley was able to be elected as the first Afro-American Mayor of a majority White voting electorate in 1973. (please see archives of Dec..scroll down, and Oct.) His Great-Grandfather was a slave, Tom picked cotton as a child in Texas.

After the losing 1969 campaign for Mayor, we learned some important lessons--Take fear out of the voter for taking a chance on someone who looks different---Make a direct challenge on specific issues and what you would do different--Have the campaign staff reflect a moderate tone.

One of the things I created for Bradley, that was different in his winning in 1973, was the "Alternative News Conference." We concentrated on one issue a week in a challenge to the incumbent. This created a news topic on the Issues not on race.

Bradley's former Chief of Protocol for 18 years, Bee Lavery, points out the hypocrisy of race identification about Obama, considering his Mother is White and Father is African. "Why isn't he considered White?" she asked. She pointed out that in the old South, a person was who had "one drop of blood from a dark skinned person, was considered Black."

Senator Barack Obama is going to spend an awful lot of time explaining his background. More than the White candidates. This is a problem, because much of the air time he receives will be wasted, unless he makes a point of including a strong challenge on the issues and what he would do different as President of the United States.

He may have to take the unusual position (in order for the electorate to feel "safe")-name some of the people he would have in his cabinet.

One of the things that Bradley never did....he never, ever, used the "race card." He never had extreme people around him who would use race as an issue. It may be an issue to some voters, but it shouldn't be in the dialog, as much as practically possible, in the representations of the candidate or his staff.

Because of the color of his skin, most democrats voting in the primary, will consider him liberal. If he gets the nomination in 2008, he will be considered very liberal by the majority of the public and thus have a more difficult time in winning the election. He must put the solving of issues high on his campaign agenda, otherwise the subtle and not so subtle issues of race will automatically take over.
 
#2
Too soon

I, like everyone else, have been very impressed with this young man...he has charisma to spare....but i truly believe even he himself knows that 2008 will be next to impossible for him. With that said, I believe it is a good move for him to seek the nomination in'08, if for nothing else, than to gain the experience campaigning.
 

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