Meet the Rock Star of U.S. Politics
By David Brody
CBN News Sr. National Correspondent
November 9, 2007
CBNNews.com - CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - In the 2008 race for the White House, Barack Obama has been often called a "rock star" in American politics.
Crowds at his events are some of the biggest on the campaign trail. But he's a distant second to frontrunner Hillary Clinton in the national polls.
Be sure to listen to Gordon Robertson's comments at the end of CBN News reporter David Brody's report.
In a one-on-one interview this week Obama told CBN News he hopes Iowa will be his ticket to the oval office.
A Hip New Candidate
The crowds love him. Whether it's Iowa or Anyplace, USA, hundreds - sometimes thousands - come to see him. Many of them are of the younger variety. It's been that way ever since a cold day in Springfield, Illinois when 15,000 people watched him announce his candidacy.
"I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for President of the United States of America," he said, drawing cheers from the crowd.
The attraction seems obvious. Supporters point to a hip personality, a high intellect, and a message of hope as the reasons why his popularity has taken off.
Obama got into this race talking about change, a desire to change the contentious public discourse in politics and change the cynicism Americans feel towards government. It is for that reason that Obama pins his hopes on defeating Clinton.
"I believe I can bring this country together in a way that Senator Clinton cannot do," he said.
In an interview with CBN News, Obama talked candidly about Clinton's past.
When asked if he believed she's a polarizing figure he said, "I believe that she is part of the fierce political battles that we had in the 90s and that some of that carries over to today. There's a certain style of politics that comes out of the 90s that she has perfected."
The theme of Obama's five day campaign here in Iowa is all about change. Well it's certain that he needs the national poll numbers to change. Hillary Clinton is the clear frontrunner, but in Iowa it's different. The polls are close and Obama knows it.
"I believe that we need to do well in Iowa," he said, avoiding saying that he needed an outright victory. "You never want to make predictions about winning or losing. I think we have to establish that we are a viable and legitimate contender."
The Obama campaign has clearly invested the time and money here. He has 33 offices in the state and he's been to a whopping 62 counties. That has translated into a much tighter race here, with polls indicating he's behind less than ten points.
A win in Iowa could help propel him to victory in other early primary states. However, there are still challenges. The biggest challenge, his critics say, is his inexperience.
Too Young?
At 46 and with less than one term as a U.S. senator, some say that is not enough. That he hasn't been battle tested. And those same critics question his practical knowledge of foreign policy.
When Obama indicated he would sit down and talk to the leaders of rogue nations without pre-conditions, opponents pounced, calling that view naive.
Clinton said, "It is not that you promise a meeting at that high a level before you know what the intentions are. I don't want to be used for propaganda purposes."
Despite the attacks, Obama keeps on speaking of a "new way". He says it's time to break down old barriers between Conservatives and Liberals.
Case in point: an appearance at Pastor Rick Warren's evangelical church to make his case to evangelicals about the AIDS crisis.
"I know that the Warrens and this church have proved that faith is not something you have. It's something you do," Obama said.
Talking to evangelicals is not something Obama shies away from. He made a personal decision for Jesus Christ in the 1980s and has talked openly about his faith in public.
"You need to come to church in the first place precisely because you are first of this world, not apart from it. You need to embrace Christ precisely because you have sins to wash away - because you are human and need an ally in this difficult journey," he said.
Obama has lamented the absolutism of the religious right and conversely, some evangelicals who may be intrigued by Obama's message are trying to understand his stance on major social issues.
"The reason that I make a decision to support the choice position is not because I don't think it's a moral issue. I trust women to make a prayerful decision about this issue," he said. "On the issue of gay marriage, my belief is that as a public official our role is to make sure that everybody is treating fairly and that everybody has equal rights."
Obama's positions probably won't play particularly well with true blue conservatives. After all, his record is pretty liberal on many issues. Obama will be the first to admit that. But he also knows that his message may indeed resonate with those in the middle.
"The country's in play right now in a way that it hasn't been in the past. I think that there are a lot of Independents and a lot of Republicans who have asked themselves, 'You know, the last seven years is not the kind of compassionate conservatism we were looking for.' And so I think they are up for grabs and we can potentially make inroads there," he said.
If he makes inroads in Iowa and wins, watch out. It could be a whole new race.
Obama said, "Your voice can change the world, Iowa. Your voice can change health care. Your voice can change education. Your voice can change the American dream, so I want to know. Are you fired up? Ready to go?"
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