But I didn’t think he had a chance. I figured Hillary would beat him convincingly and if she didn’t Edwards might because he had already run in 04 and he was a vice-presidential nominee and he was the white guy and that is how Americans are (or seem to the rest of the world).

I honestly thought he had a real shot at it. Having heard him speak, he was just that awesome, just so damn good. I hadn’t even listened to his convention speech back then. Oprah said it best “he’s BRILLIANT”. He’s got a better voice than Morgan Freeman and as much grace. Best Political Leader I’ve seen in my lifetime.

I really thought he had a shot, those crowds were not for any normal poly, he’s in his own league.

HE WILL WIN IN NOVEMBER.

I can’t wait for his inaugreation (spell) speech.

Until Hurricane Katrina.

When Obama went to the Superdome, that caught my attention and that’s when I decided to investigate him by reading his book, Dreams From My Father. I blogged about it at the time (I wanted to hear more about his mother)

http://anovelista.blogspot.com/2005/12/baracking-world.html

As far as his presidential run, After reading Dreams From My Father and reading every article (pro and con) I could find, my attitude was as long as he is in it, I am for him

He is also the first (and probably the last) politician that I have ever volunteered for and donated money to.

16 months later he stands as the Democratic Nominee for President. 18 months ago I stood on stage with this man. He inspired me then and he continues to inspire me and a generation and country of others. He IS what this country needs…

On that Saturday morning in February I was wishing I hadn’t worn my steeltoed boots. I didn’t know if we could pull this off but I was determined to work my butt off trying. As soon as my feet thawed out.

I am so happy for the brothers and sisters here. I wish I could see those black nurses who helped take care of my dad last November, who told me Hillary would win, “Barack is just a baby” they said. It’s not their fault. They didn’t know, they didn’t believe, Hillary had a 57-37% lead in SC at the time. Why should they get their hearts broken cuz some white guy with a sick dad says so? But I bet by the time the primary rolled around they did.

But I’m not just happy for black folks. I’m happy for all the white people I talk to when I’m phonebanking. A lot of them Repubs who say they’re voting for him in the fall. I spoke to one guy last night, a Repub in his 60s, while making calls separating the wheat from the chaff for our Dems in DuPage. When I asked him if he thought he’d vote for Scott Harper (IL-13) our Dem House candidate, he said with more wonder in his voice than anything else, “hey, I’m voting for Barack, so yeah sure” as if to say “I never thought I’d ever say something like that out loud but I’ve been thinking it for months and yeah there I said it, I am, and it feels good.”

I was an Edwards supporter because of what he tried to do with New Orleans and with poverty.

I liked Edwards’ wife, too.

Then Edwards faded in the Obama juggernaut, and I had to respect brother man and to really look at him.

Then I knew he was for real when Bill started whining about how dis colored boy outta no place done spoiled mah fun on Charlie Rose. The race-baiting started at that moment.

I wasn’t even thinking of switching to Billary then. I didn’t even like the idea of voting for her. I was even iffy about Obama after reading a few articles on Black Agenda Report and reading this piece called “Barack Obama, Inc.” in The Atlantic, I think. But that pathetic performance on Rose after Iowa tore it for me. I thought then, oh, no you ain’t, b*tch. Not while I live am I going to vote for your ass again.

Then the “Yes we can” video came out…and I kept playing it over and over, and sending it to friends, and he kept winning and winning. Confounding everyone.

I’m reading his books soon, just to get a bead on him. I wish him well, and I’m praying for him to stay alive. I know his nomination and elevation to the presidency is going to be largely symbolic for us; he’s going to make some mistakes. But he is ours; I never thought that he was less black or not black enough. Just too unknown…

And now everyone knows him.

And then there was Obama’s New Hampshire speech. I was converted. And then he came to South Carolina and I heard him speak. I read his policy positions, and the more I heard from him, I knew I had to change my vote.

And then came the Hanky Heads, and Bill’s Big Racist Mouth…and I knew that I had made the right decision.

I later met my future roomate who I became best friends with. She attended Trinity United Church of Christ. She told me wonderful things about Obama. She campaigned for him when he was running for the senate. She isn’t the most enthusiatic right now but she will be fine in a month or so.

I read both Dreams From My Father and Audacity of Hope.

I always felt that he had a chance despite everyone else doubting it. I spent the past year March 2007-April 2008 campaigning for him!

Its been a long year…My God. I will resume probably in late July or Early August=)

I have been getting choked up all day. I love it.

I heard his anti-invasion speech in person in Oct. 2002 and have supported him ever since. After watching, reading news and reading his first book I knew this was the kind of candidate I and many people like me have been waiting for – for decades.

I believe he will be the president.

I got chills from that speech and so many times afterward when I heard him speak. For me, chills are a sign of emotional resonance.

In that campaign at the primary level I was a supporter of a competitor of his (who in my defense was also a neighbor of mine and who I knew from a cafe we both frequented across from my house – so I supported the candidate I knew personally).

However when Obama won the Dem primary and then went on to clean the clock of the Republicans I was quite proud and happy to vote for him. And as he gave the speech at the Democratic Convention that year I was fairly sure he would one day run and win the Presidency.

So when he announced I was pretty sure he would win, even in the face of the Clinton juggernaut.

[and just for the record I'm a white, Jewish male]

You made me laugh out loud!

I thought Hillary would clean his clock, but that he would get some good experience for a later run for the WH.

Hee!