Barack Obama addressed the hushed Florida Democratic party as the Keynote Speaker, December 11, 2005.
As he stood before us and the cadence of his words punched his message home in a quiet, unassuming manner, I was struck by the dignity of this man.
As were others.
At one point, the speech turned to leadership.
"In Washington right now, we don’t see the kind of leadership that would give us faith," Obama said. "It’s the timidity, the smallness of our politics that are holding us back."
The Senator took slight pause. A voice called out from the back of the ballroom.
"You're looking pretty good!"
As the party faithful thundered support, I observed Barack bow his head ever so slightly as a small, unassuming smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
As silence stilled the room, I seated myself and took note of the almost palatable feeling enveloping these hard core Democratic Floridians, the Rockys of the political world.
Optimism.
Barack Obama officially announces his race for the Presidency today, February 10, 2007.
He will connect-rather than decide- the individuality of all Americans.