Obama Article From Newsweek's "The Gaggle"

[OrangeSquare]

Here ya go Obama Fans.

Contributed by Holly Bailey - Posted: November 28, 2006 3:58:52 PM

Message to Barack Obama: All this flirting with a 2008 presidential bid is cute and all--and for some, very suspenseful--but would you just announce you're running already? On Monday, one of Obama's biggest boosters, Sen. Dick Durbin, launched an online petition urging his fellow Illinois Dem to run for president. In a message emailed to supporters and posted on his campaign Web site, Durbin giddily professes to be a "huge Barack Obama fan" and says the junior senator has what it takes for the White House. In an open letter to Obama, Durbin writes, "You are the right man to lead our country at a time of such turmoil around the globe, bringing Americans together at a time in our nation's history when we need unity more than ever- That is why I hope you will run for president in 2008." Supporters who sign the petition are asked to check off a box allowing permission for Durbin to share their info with the Obama 2008 campaign--should he run, of course. For now, Obama continues to play coy about his ambitions, telling reporters that he's only thinking about running. But that soul-searching is being conducted in some very interesting places. On Dec. 10, Obama is scheduled to headline a fundraiser for the New Hampshire Democratic Party to celebrate the Dems' historic Election Day wins. It will be Obama's first visit to New Hampshire--and likely not his last. The rally is scheduled to be held in the Center of New Hampshire ballroom at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Manchester--a historic spot in presidential primary politics. Known among reporters as "the center of the universe" during the New Hampshire primary, virtually every presidential candidate in recent memory has stumped here at least one time or another during their push for the White House. And it's where many politicos have celebrated their primary wins: John Kerry spoke here in 2004 after winning New Hampshire, ditto for Al Gore in 2000. With just about 13 months to go before the New Hampshire primary--the exact date has yet to be set--it's never too soon to read too much into a political appearance. After all, it's only 706 days until Election Day 2008. Not that anyone's counting.