This was gonna be a Top Ten list, but it's late and I wanna go to bed now.
6. More time in the Senate won't help either his image or his Presidential chances.
Just ask Bob Dole and John Kerry about this one.
5. He should strike while the iron is hot.
The enthusiasm for him has nowhere to go but down. Over time, it will even be in other Democrats' interest to undercut him. And he's bound to disappoint somebody eventually, right?
4. Hillary can win the nomination, but her chances in the General election are dubious.
Geffen may be the only one to state this so clearly, but he's got a point. It's difficult for me to see how Hillary could become competitive in places like Missouri or Nevada, much less Ohio. But she has surprised me before...
3. Obama can raise more cash than anyone else in the Party.
Assuming, of course, that the Clintons put out a full effort on his behalf. Since it looks like Hillary will run, this seems doubtful. But you never know.
2. He's the best person to go up against Condi Rice.
The GOP is playing for keeps; the sooner we get used to that idea, the better. I believe that the leadership of the modern GOP is anxious to shed their image as the refuge of the Dixiecrats in favor of a more catholic, Corporate-American vision. These people's slogan would best be described as, "What Would Microsoft Do?" In that vein, I think they are quite serious in their attempt to double or triple their popularity in the Black community. They will do just that should Condi Rice - who after all, is the most popular and electable national Republican alive - run for the Presidency. I believe that it's inevitable that she'll run eventually; I think it's quite likely she'll be the '08 nominee. If she is, Obama becomes absolutely necessary to be on the ticket, if only as VP.
1. He's the best chance for Dems to win in '08.
This guy is the best chance for Democrats to reach out to spiritually-inclined independents and Republicans who are turned off by the Politics of Rove et. al. He really does seem like a breath of fresh air.
Yes, Warner, Clark, and even Schweitzer could make strong appeals for votes in red states. Yes, some of these guys could be considered fresh. And yes, even I would prefer it if Gore would get down to his fighting weight and give it a go. But nobody is as strong as Obama, right now, in so many ways. He's the real deal, and he's a person that people would be genuinely excited about supporting. Who was the last Dem you could honestly say that about?