It was bound to happen, given Obama’s rock star status.

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, whose best-selling books and political travels generated huge pressure to run for the White House, joined a crowded Democratic field yesterday, vowing to advance "a different kind of politics" in a campaign that could make him the nation's first African American president.

Obama, a state legislator just three years ago, announced that he has formed a presidential exploratory committee, accelerating his already rapid emergence in national politics and establishing him as his party's most formidable rival to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, the Democratic front-runner. He will formally announce his candidacy on Feb. 10.

The problem is, though, that his career includes no significant accomplishments. Indeed, he was elected to the US Senate only two years ago, after his Republican opponent’s campaign imploded in a sex scandal and the GOP could not find a credible replacement. During his time in the Senate he has been a big draw on the campaign trail, but is an absolute cipher as a legislator. Even his state legislative career is painted in only the most general terms in this article.

In 1996, he was elected to the Illinois state Senate, where he earned a reputation as a consensus-building Democrat who was strongly liberal on social and economic issues, backing gay rights, abortion rights, gun control, universal health care and tax breaks for the poor.

Indeed, the only two things that Obama has going for him as a candidate are his unquestioned skill as an orator and the color of his skin. This was illustrated yesterday when a representative of Young Democrats for America appearing on Sean Hannity’s radio show to speak about his announcement was unable to name a single substantive thing Obama has done during his time in Washington – or at any other point during his career.

What is going to happen to Obama’s candidacy? It will ultimately fail – and he will in all likelihood end up in the VP slot of a Clinton-Obama ticket. And if he does beat the odds and get the nomination? Expect him to crash and burn.

Oh, by the way, if you want to know about Obama’s record as a state legislator, you can find that information here.

Posted by: Greg at 11:32 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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