While mulling over tonight's results, you might be interested in reading this 1993 Chicago Magazine article about Obama's early efforts in registering new voters in Chicago. I was aware of this achievement but had not read a contemporaneous news account thus far.
A huge black turnout in November 1992 altered Chicago's electoral landscape-and raised a new political star: a 31-year-old lawyer named Barack Obama.
What is striking is the similarity between the political style of the 31 year old political neophyte and today's electrifying candidate.
Within a few months, Obama, a tall, affable workaholic, had recruited staff and volunteers from black churches, community groups, and politicians. He helped train 700 deputy registrars, out of a total of 11,000 citywide. And he began a saturation media campaign with the help of black-owned Brainstorm Communications.
The article noted how the campaign's striking success had marked Obama as a potential superstar.
Nor can Obama himself be ignored. The success of the voter-registration drive has marked him as the political star the Mayor should perhaps be watching for. "The sky's the limit for Barack," says Burrell.
I highly recommend reading this article in its entirety, and passing it on to friends who don't "get" the Obama phenomenon, or who think Barack needs more seasoning. Looks like he was already pretty formidable 15 years ago.
(My first DailyKos diary; hope this works.)