Spring Break
Grassroots committing to Obama
Sommer Saadi, Contributing Writer, ssaadi@smu.edu
Issue date: 3/21/07 Section: News
People say they are attracted to Obama's fresh face on the political scene. His lack of any substantial political track record allows his supporters to interpret his message in a way that best accommodates their own political views.
"People are reading into him whatever they want to read," Wilson said.
Obama does not have the same political history as other presidential candidates, which allows him to take more flexible positions on issues, say campaign experts.
But not taking a stand on several primary issues could eventually hinder his campaign, they say. With primaries potentially moved to February 2008, Obama will soon need to demonstrate how he is different from other candidates.
His multi-racial background is a start.
Obama's father was born and raised in Kenya and his mother, who is white, grew up in a small town in Kansas. His father eventually moved back to Kenya, and he grew up with his mother in Hawaii and for a few years in Indonesia.
But Obama's atypical family background is countered with his more typical educational background. He earned a degree from Columbia University and a law degree from Harvard, where he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Both elements of his background combine to engage a wide range of support.
The question is how deep is that support, say experts, who wonder if the excitement is merely an infatuation with the politician who spouted hopeful rhetoric at the 2004 Democratic National Convention or a testament to the nation's overwhelming desire and commitment to change.
"The question is if he can sustain the hype until the primaries," Jillson said. "It's a question of whether he can keep this level of enthusiasm for the next year."
The Obama campaign is working to keep supporters involved by making Obama an accessible candidate who can respond to their concerns. His campaign Web site boasts, "This campaign is about you" to visitors and invites each of them to create his or her own blog and profile to better network with other Obama supporters. Other sections of the site allow visitors to "Meet Barack" and his family.
"People are reading into him whatever they want to read," Wilson said.
Obama does not have the same political history as other presidential candidates, which allows him to take more flexible positions on issues, say campaign experts.
But not taking a stand on several primary issues could eventually hinder his campaign, they say. With primaries potentially moved to February 2008, Obama will soon need to demonstrate how he is different from other candidates.
His multi-racial background is a start.
Obama's father was born and raised in Kenya and his mother, who is white, grew up in a small town in Kansas. His father eventually moved back to Kenya, and he grew up with his mother in Hawaii and for a few years in Indonesia.
But Obama's atypical family background is countered with his more typical educational background. He earned a degree from Columbia University and a law degree from Harvard, where he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Both elements of his background combine to engage a wide range of support.
The question is how deep is that support, say experts, who wonder if the excitement is merely an infatuation with the politician who spouted hopeful rhetoric at the 2004 Democratic National Convention or a testament to the nation's overwhelming desire and commitment to change.
"The question is if he can sustain the hype until the primaries," Jillson said. "It's a question of whether he can keep this level of enthusiasm for the next year."
The Obama campaign is working to keep supporters involved by making Obama an accessible candidate who can respond to their concerns. His campaign Web site boasts, "This campaign is about you" to visitors and invites each of them to create his or her own blog and profile to better network with other Obama supporters. Other sections of the site allow visitors to "Meet Barack" and his family.
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