Yes he did

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It's hard to overstate how exceedingly unlikely this was. When Barack Obama launched his presidential campaign in February 2007 — it seems like years ago — he was a candidate to be taken seriously, but hardly the likely nominee. Obama not only faced a popular former senator who was the VP candidate one cycle earlier, but was also launching a challenge against the overwhelming favorite — a popular senator with an impressive background, universal name recognition, and the best name in Democratic politics.

If you took a poll in all 50 states the day Obama announced, he would have trailed in 49. Nationally, Obama started out with less money, fewer endorsements, less institutional support, and a smaller, less experienced staff. He started off trailing Hillary Clinton by about 20 points. By the late fall of 2007, it was about 25 points.

He was too young. Too inexperienced. His name sounded too funny. And yet, today, Barack Obama, the son of a Kenyan farmer and a white Kansan mother, is the improbable, presumptive Democratic nominee for President of the United States.

Senator Barack Obama claimed the Democratic presidential nomination on Tuesday evening, prevailing through an epic battle with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in a primary campaign that inspired millions of voters from every corner of America to demand change in Washington.

A last-minute rush of Democratic superdelegates, as well as the results from the final primaries, in Montana and South Dakota, pushed Mr. Obama over the threshold of winning the 2,118 delegates needed to be nominated at the party's convention in August. The victory for Mr. Obama, the son of a black Kenyan father and a white Kansan mother, broke racial barriers and represented a remarkable rise for a man who just four years ago served in the Illinois Senate.

"Tonight, we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another — a journey that will bring a new and better day to America," Mr. Obama told supporters at a rally in St. Paul. "Because of you, tonight I can stand here and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States of America."

In a narrow sense, Obama's success makes it easy to proud to be a Democrat. This is the first party to feature a Catholic candidate on a national ticket (80 years ago), the first party to feature a woman candidate on a national ticket (24 years ago), the first party to feature a Jewish candidate on a national ticket (8 years ago), and now the first party to feature an African-American candidate on a national ticket. It's a reminder that in the Democratic Party, everyone has a voice, and everyone can reach for the ring.

But in a broader sense, Obama's achievement is a milestone for the nation. This is a landmark American moment.

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/

[Fandango 1,439]

I agree, it's a wonderful sign of the times when a black man is a serious contender for POTUS.

It just sucks that it's the wrong black man.......

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I agree, it's a wonderful sign of the times when a black man is a serious contender for POTUS.

It just sucks that it's the wrong black man.......

Any Democrat would have been the wrong black man to most Republicans.

The GOP has talented women and people of color but it's only in the Democratic party that they are somehow able to rise to the top.

I wonder why.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I agree, it's a wonderful sign of the times when a black man is a serious contender for POTUS.

It just sucks that it's the wrong black man.......

Any Democrat would have been the wrong black man to most Republicans.

The GOP has talented women and people of color but it's only in the Democratic party that they are somehow able to rise to the top.

I wonder why.

Who would be the "right" minority candidate in either party?

[*JG* 2]

Yeah to BO!

[Fandango 1,439]

I agree, it's a wonderful sign of the times when a black man is a serious contender for POTUS.

It just sucks that it's the wrong black man.......

Any Democrat would have been the wrong black man to most Republicans.

Right, so 'most republicans' are racist. Great.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I agree, it's a wonderful sign of the times when a black man is a serious contender for POTUS.

It just sucks that it's the wrong black man.......

Any Democrat would have been the wrong black man to most Republicans.

Right, so 'most republicans' are racist. Great.

the statement you quoted didn't mean that - It meant that partisans are partisan

[Carol and Bruno 0]

I agree, it's a wonderful sign of the times when a black man is a serious contender for POTUS.

It just sucks that it's the wrong black man.......

The wrong black man was Jesse Jackson when he ran.

[Carol and Bruno 0]

I agree, it's a wonderful sign of the times when a black man is a serious contender for POTUS.

It just sucks that it's the wrong black man.......

Any Democrat would have been the wrong black man to most Republicans.

Right, so 'most republicans' are racist. Great.

I believe he/she meant that any Democrat regardless of race would have been the wrong choice in the eyes of a Republican.

Correct me if I'm wrong VJ troll.

Edited June 4, 2008 by Carol and Bruno

[Scott & Lai 12]

I agree, it's a wonderful sign of the times when a black man is a serious contender for POTUS.

It just sucks that it's the wrong black man.......

The wrong black man was Jesse Jackson when he ran.

He was definitely the wrong black man. But I'm not conviced Obama is any less wrong.

In 1996 we were told, "The era of big government is over." If Obama wins in November, it will be, "The era of big government has just begun."

Edited June 4, 2008 by Scott & Lai

[Fandango 1,439]

I wasnt speaking as a republican....I was speaking as me. I have crossed party lines before...hell, I was the president of the College Democrats at my uni

When I say he was the wrong black man, I meant it...not as some partisan-blind republican trying to shoot holes in everything for the sake of doing so.

Apols, G....sorry I misunderstood.

[Carol and Bruno 0]

I agree, it's a wonderful sign of the times when a black man is a serious contender for POTUS.

It just sucks that it's the wrong black man.......

The wrong black man was Jesse Jackson when he ran.

He was definitely the wrong black man. But I'm not conviced Obama is any less wrong.

You might be right, but only time will tell assuming he wins the presidency.

Though I would never compare Barack Obama to Jesse Jackson.

Edited June 4, 2008 by Carol and Bruno

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

hell, I was the president of the College Democrats at my uni