Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Obama says he hasn't thought seriously about presidency
By Brett Nerad
The Daily Vidette (Illinois State U.)
10/30/2006

(U-WIRE) NORMAL, Ill. — During an interview on "Meet the Press" with Tim Russert, Sen. Barack Obama commented on the possibility of making a presidential run in 2008.

"I have thought about the possibility, but I have not thought about it with the seriousness and depth that I think is required," Obama said.

He added his main focus was retaking Congress on Nov. 7.

"After Nov. 7, I'll sit down and consider it."

Obama, Illinois' freshman senator, has been riding a wave of popularity within his party both nationally and globally. Despite that popularity, some have questioned whether the senator is qualified for the Oval Office given his age and lack of experience.

"He's so young," Gary Klass, an Illinois State University political science professor, said. "I don't know if he's ready yet. He would make a great president someday, though." Obama was sworn into office on Jan. 4, 2005. If he decides to run for president in 2008, he would have three years experience in Washington.

"He's pretty liberal on a lot of issues," Klass added. "But he understands the other side, which you can't say about a lot of people."

Klass said he wasn't sure if an Obama presidential run would be good for the Democratic Party or not. As his popularity would suggest, some are completely behind an Obama presidential run.

"I think that Sen. Obama, if he chooses to run, would do an excellent job," Logan Faron, a senior history major and president of the ISU College Democrats, said.

"People don't realize that many of our presidents have about equal experience as our senator does," Faron added. "I think Barack Obama could unite this country in ways no other public official could."

Others believe Obama would make a good president, but have not seen enough of what he stands for.

"What I would say is, I would like him to prove himself a bit more, show us what he's all about," Eric Much, a senior history major and representative of the Campus Green Party, said.

"He has the appearance of someone who could be a good leader," Much added. "But you gotta show me something first."

Still, others say Obama's lack of experience would be a major hurdle in getting elected president of the United States.

"I really think Americans are going to have a hard time voting for a person who is only going to be in the Senate for four years at the time of that election. He just doesn't have enough experience," David McCoy, a junior criminal justice major and president of the College Republicans, said.

McCoy said the appearance of being too liberal could hurt Obama. Even with the misgivings of inexperience and being on the other side of the aisle, McCoy did have some kind words for the freshman senator.

"If there's one person that can rally the Democratic Party, it probably is Barack Obama," he said.

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