So, it's official - Chicago's Senator Barack Obama has now jumped into the 2008 White House race. See the announcement for yourselves.The last time I remember as charismatic a strong candiate for president was some 20 years ago when many grassroots activists like me were building the rainbow coalition chapters and diverse labor/community alliances all over the US for the 1984 and 1988 Jesse Jackson campaigns. But Obama critics rightly challenge Obama's relatively shallow, but 'clean' record, while also pointing out his clearly centrist politics. Progressive friends of mine from Chicago and within the old 80's Rainbow Coalition seem to be taking a wait and see approach. How Obama's platform and campaign structure shapes up will be worth watching. And, whether Obama can build strong grassroots labor and community support like Jesse Jackson's 84 and 88 campaigns remains to be seen as well.
SF Story - Last night a small group of people of color working in the SF Bay Area to Draft Obama for President met to discuss ongoing work locally. For more info on the local SF Bay Obama Support group - David Trotman (415) 298-8979 or feets@earthlink.net
Democratic Sen. Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) of Illinois jumped into the 2008 White House race on Tuesday, promising to "change our politics" with a campaign that could make him the first black president in U.S. history.
Obama, a freshman senator and rising party star, formed an exploratory committee to begin raising money and hiring staff to campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination to succeed Republican President George W. Bush.
He plans a formal campaign announcement in his home state of Illinois on February 10.
"Our leaders in Washington seem incapable of working together in a practical, common-sense way. Politics has become so bitter and partisan, so gummed up by money and influence, that we can't tackle the big problems that demand solutions," Obama said in a video message announcing his bid.
For more on the national Draft Obama effort -
YouTube - See it here
More at DraftObama.org/news.
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