Home > Politics > Political Punch

Political Punch

Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper

« Previous | Main | Next »

Obamania

February 09, 2007 2:18 PM

On a United flight to Chicago right now, then a quick hop to Springfield, Illinois, where Saturday morning Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., will formally declare his presidential candidacy. (Hasn't he already done that? a friend recently asked. Answer: No. The way this kabuki is now performer, for superstar candidates, is: a) tease, b) explore, c) milk the new explore status, d) declare.

On Saturday, Obama does (d) at the Historic Old State Capitol in Springfield at 10:00 am local time.

Why? This is where he served in the state legislature for eigh years, so it's a defensive reminder that he's not as inexperienced as some may portray him as (I'm talking to you, Johnny Edwards!).

Plus there is that whole Abe Lincoln come let us heal this nation thing.

The event will be outside. The forecast states the temperature will be in the teens.

Intended Projection: Youth! Vigor!

And hopefully no mucous.

Obama then will fly, press corps in tow, to first-in-the-nation caucus state Iowa.

Specifically to Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids for a 5:00 pm ET town hall meeting. He will then have an 8:30 pm ET meet-and-greet at the Central Middle School Gymnasium in Waterloo. After overnighting in Iowa Falls, on Sunday he'll hold a 1:00 pm ET rally at Iowa State University in Ames.

Then the self-described "skinny guy with a funny name" heads to his hometown, Chicago, the city with shoulders, for a 6:30 pm ET rally at the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavilion. Then a fundraiser, I think. We in the press corps won't see much of that.

Ahem.

And then a hard-hitting profile or big wet kiss will run on CBS' "60 Minutes," which has demanded - and I'm speculating here - that Obama not do any other TV interviews until its profile of him runs. (Pretty par for the course for a big splashy show.)

More later.... What do you all think of Mr. Barack Hussein Obama?

- jt

February 9, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (7)

User Comments

How charming the instertion of Sen. Obama's middle name is. Don't worry that the WashPost has called the tactic sleazy--and it is--and muslim baiting. It's ridiculous, unnecessary, and unattractive.

Posted by: tisha | Feb 12, 2007 4:56:09 PM

How many people has the Australian Prime Minister lost in Iraq? How many people is he willing to have there? When their numbers compare than he can say we should remain there too! Other countries give departure dates and pull their people when can we if not a year from know? What is to gain by staying?

Posted by: trithinking2 | Feb 12, 2007 1:24:16 PM

I'm in his thrall. Which I'm happy about, because he gives me hope.

Posted by: cordelia525 | Feb 11, 2007 8:30:27 AM

Mr. Tapper,

Does anyone even know what John Edwards' middle name is?

Your efforts to play on anti-Muslim sentiment by using his middle name are transparent, desperate, and annoying.

Your column will continue to be tripe as long as you use such tactics.

Posted by: Eddy Tompkins | Feb 9, 2007 9:01:33 PM

memekiller, I think you're reading too much into an innocent post.

Posted by: dkny | Feb 9, 2007 4:25:24 PM

I just keep thinking of Michelle Obama's advice to her husband before he made the keynote speech at the Dem convention of 2004: "Don't screw this up." Wise counsel for his declaration tomorrow, too.

Posted by: chuck | Feb 9, 2007 3:30:36 PM

Funny, how quickly the right wing gets you to dance when they say you're going so easy on the Obama, a week after he gets slimed as having coming from a radical Islamic terrorist producing Madrassa. You even make sure to get his middle name out there to feed the "Obama" sounds like "Osama" storyline, which fits neatly into the Obama as Muslim name (even though he's Christian). Now you're going to whine about the soft treatment he's receiving?

Posted by: memekiller | Feb 9, 2007 3:30:28 PM

Post a comment