OBAMA FOR 2008?

It shouldn't come as any surprise. U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D - IL) is young, charismatic, and he's attracting record crowds and funds at many of the events he attends on behalf of local and state Democratic organizations.

Sunday's Washington Post has a feature (which appears on the MSNBC website) by Charles Babington about the freshman senator who is being encouraged by some to look toward a presidential campaign for 2008. There is no doubt he is listening.

"I think he is unique," said Illinois's senior senator, Richard J. Durbin (D). "I don't believe there is another candidate I've seen, or an elected official, who really has the appeal that he does." As for the 2008 presidential race, "I said to him, 'Why don't you just kind of move around Iowa and watch what happens?' I know what's going to happen. And I think it's going to rewrite the game plans in a lot of presidential candidates if he makes that decision."

The story itself is interesting reading. But should he run in two years? He doesn't have the baggage that some of the better known names being tossed about has, but he doesn't have the experience, either. Senator Obama has only been in the Senate about a year and a half. All that said, though, he could bring in a lot of younger voters and others who have been out of the picture for awhile...and it would certainly change the picture for the Democratic campaign.