Obama In 2004: I Can’t See Running For President In ’08

Interviewer: “So why have you ruled that out…running nationally?”

Obama: “I am a believer in…….(pregnant pause)……….knowing what you’re doing…when you apply for a job…”

“If I were to seriously consider running on a national ticket…I would essentially have to start now…before having served a day in the Senate. Now there might be some people who would have no problem doing that, but ah…I’m not one of them“.

Now, while it’s true that Hillary made a pledge in 2000 not to run for President, she had the good sense not to renew that pledge during her Senatorial re-election campaign in 2005.

Why were people even asking him four years ago when he was only a newly elected junior Senator from Illinois, whether he was going to run for President?

I think Joe Biden said it best:

“I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” Biden said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”

Most people scoffed at the idea that Barack was “the first African American” etc. etc….And yet…

I think that’s the sort of thinking that has been fueling much of his support.

Hat tip: Amerpundit