NBC News: Obama to form Presidential Exploratory Committee

[IndianaGreen]

MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell just announced on the air that NBC News is reporting that Illinois Senator Barack Obama is going to form Presidential Exploratory Committee, perhaps as early as this week.

No link yet.

On edit:

Forming an exploratory committee and announcing one's candidacy are two distinct and separate events. Forming the exploratory committee permits the prospective candidate to raise some funds and to test the waters for a potential run for office, such as campaign appearances in the early primary and caucus states.

There is some confusion about these two steps that candidates take. The fact that Obama is forming an exploratory committee is evidence that he intends to run, although is not a certainty (Bayh had an exploratory committee but he chose not to run). Clark has yet to form an exploratory committee, a fact that is not lost on his many anxious supporters. I am sure that when Clark announces the formation of such a committee, Clark's supporters will rejoice as much as Obama's supporters are about Obama.

[benny05]

1. He's announcing on Oprah on Wed

And going to Iowa on Friday, according to the Hotline.

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/

[BlueStateModerate]

2. Oh, dear God

Please, don't announce on Oprah. What a great way to stumble out of the gates.

[Clark2008]

3. How so?

Oprah has a bigger audience than most news shows.

Sadly.

[NYCGirl]

6. John Edwards announced for 2003 on The Daily Show. How is this different

(except that Oprah has a much larger audience)?

[Imagevision]

8. The Daily Show doesn't have Oprah's numbers...

[NYCGirl]

10. Yes, I explained that Oprah has far more viewers. NT

[Ninja Jordan]

40. Hit-and-run nonsense from someone with 150 posts

Demographically, Oprah is the best show a politician could possibly use as a vehicle to announce a presidential bid. She's watched by millions of soccer moms and middle americana on a daily basis.

[dsc]

4. According to Oprah he isn't doing that

Oprah says she is having the boys who were recently found and their families.

[benny05]

5. Wonder then

why her website is mysterious about who the guest is?

[ripple]

13. Sorry, didn't see your post before I posted essentially the same thing n/t

[ripple]

11. Based on this completely unrelated article, I'm not so sure

I happened to spot this when reading an article in my local newspaper.

www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/jan/15/mo_investigators_plotting_course/

'Shawn’s family asked for one day out of the spotlight. Sunday was their day to spend with their son. Pam and Craig Akers decided they would not talk to any media until after they appear Wednesday on “Oprah.”'

Since Wed. seems to be the expectation for Obama's announcement, perhaps he'll announce tomorrow, just to sort of throw everyone off track. :shrug:

[IndianaGreen]

23. That Oprah story has been debunked! It is a red herring!

There was a thread over the weekend about Obama announcing on Oprah. There was no substance to it whatsoever, a red herring if you wish.

According to NBC News Obama is announcing that he is forming an exploratory committee. This is NOT the same thing as announcing one's candidacy for President. Please re-read OP, I added a postscript explaining the difference between the two.

[Imagevision]

7. Oprah has already stated she would support Barack Obama 110%....

If you were Hillary Edwards or McCain, wouldn't you really want to have Oprah in your corner...

[SanFranciscoValues]

9. I for one

Hope that Obama decides to run. I would be more than happy with an Obama or Edwards as President (or even Hillary ; ). If anything, Obama will bring a fresh perspective to the debates. I find his optimism and knowledge of the issues to be inspiring. Run Obama Run!

[benny05]

14. I am looking forward to hearing his positions

I'm an JRE supporter, but I do think he will bring an interesting dynamic to the campaign.

I live in Illinois, downstate, so I really knew almost nothing about his positions (other than woman's right to choose). He did almost no campaigning where I live and stayed more in northern parts of the state. So I will be getting to know his positions better, I hope.

[Lord Byron]

12. announcing on Oprah? How embarrassing

Kick for real progressive populism, not this

[IndianaGreen]

15. That's not what is NBC is reporting

Please re-read the OP and disregard those that are talking about Oprah.

[ripple]

16. Embarrassing? That seems harsh.

Oprah is about as populist as one can get, and while I'm not personally a fan or anything, she does promote progressive causes.

I think announcing there shows some serious pragmatism on Obama's part. He's already introduced himself to Joe Football, now it's time to move on to one of the largest audiences in television- and an endorsement from a woman who's fans treat her opinions like gold.

Pretty brilliant, if you ask me.

[IndianaGreen]

19. Obama is NOT announcing on Oprah. That's benny05's red herring!

DUer benny05 had this red herring that Obama was going to announce on Oprah. This was the topic of a thread over the weekend which was debunked!

This thread is on NBC News reporting that Obama will form an exploratory committee, perhaps as early as this week. Please re-read the OP, I wrote a postscript in which I explain the big difference between forming an exploratory committee and announcing one's candidacy. They are not the same, and they are both governed by different set of rules.

[benny05]

17. Actually, I think it's a good move if he does

Oprah's show is in Chicago, his home is in Chicago, and most first time candidates like to announce from home. She has high Nielsen ratings, so it's win-win for them.

What remains to be seen is Mrs. Obama's interest in the campaign. I think what may have hurt Dean a little last time was Mrs. Dean seemed to have very little interest in participating in her spouse's campaign.

[NYCGirl]

25. Just want to debunk a little statement — Dr. Dean didn't want to leave her

patients to go off and campaign. She had plenty of interest in what her husband was doing — she just felt her practice was important, too.

[benny05]

29. Dr. Dean Cared Deeply for Her Patients

I agree on that, but it's my perception, and some friends and I have discussed it more than once, Dr. Dean looked less than enthusiastic about being in a campaign. I've wondered if it's because she might be more introverted (not shy, but her energy is drawn within) whereas her spouse is extraverted (gets his energy from being around others).

The last 2 presidents were extraverted too. Kerry was introverted whereas Teresa appeared more outgoing. It will be interesting to see if our next President is introverted or extraverted and what his/her spouse will be like.

[SanFranciscoValues]

22. Yay for hysterics!!

Obama is going to declare his candidacy on Oprah and then come out of the closet as a transsexual communist!! The horror the horror! Haha do you believe everything you are told/hear? You would love Fox News...

[IndianaGreen]

26. Oprah as a strawman, or straw woman

a pet theory from some DUers for which there is no evidence.

Obama is not announcing for President. He is only forming an exploratory committee, a necessary first step for any prospective candidate.

[Pithy Cherub]

18. Good for Obama!

It will be interesting to see him in campaign mode on the national stage.

[illinoisprogressive]

20. Announcing on Oprah, with her audience and support, will cut into Hillary's

A very large segment of her audience follows what Oprah says. They believe in her. And those are huge numbers of women. This will cut into Hillary's numbers before she gets started. Hillary plans to appeal to middle of road women and those are Oprah women.
Very smart

[IndianaGreen]

24. Obama is NOT announcing on Oprah!

In fact, Obama is NOT announcing that he is a candidate for President!

Please re-read the OP.

If you want to talk about Oprah, please post on the already debunked Oprah thread that was posted over the weekend.

[benny05]

30. I kept wondering what thread you meant

Finally I found it.

I wouldn't call my post a red herring.

[IndianaGreen]

37. I posted there on Sunday

in response to the "Obama lacks experience" posts of someone that supports a certain bottle-blonde candidate.

For those not in the know, here is the link to the Oprah thread.

A tipster with knowledge of Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) presidential campaign planning hints...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3056260

A "tipster... hints", now what kind of bullshit story is that?

[jefferson_dem]

21. Obama promises 2008 answer in one to two weeks, want to "constrain" Chimpy on Iraq

Obama promises 2008 answer in one to two weeks
By Eric Krol
Daily Herald Political Writer
Posted Monday, January 15, 2007

Democratic U.S. Sen. Barack Obama said today that an announcement on his presidential political plans remains a week or two away and that he specifically wanted to avoid revealing his plans on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“We will have an announcement very soon,” Obama told reporters after a speech at a church in south suburban Harvey. “But I didn’t want to use this date to indicate my plans because I am humbled by what Dr. King accomplished. I don’t think that whatever my political plans are are comparable to the historical struggles that he went through and I don’t want to draw false parallels.”

Illinois’ junior senator also said he thinks a majority of the Senate will agree by the end of the week on a non-binding resolution against President Bush’s plan to send more troops to Iraq.

“I think we will get a majority of the Senate saying that this is a bad idea. That will give us, I think, the impetus and the political symbolism to then start pursuing a more concrete plan to constrain the president,” said Obama, who has called for the immediate drawdown of troops from Iraq.

<SNIP>

“We’ve got to figure out how to constrain a president who’s determined to pursue what the American people have uniformly concluded, I think, is a wrong-headed path.”

<SNIP>

http://www.dailyherald.com/story.asp?id=269826

[IndianaGreen]

27. That's an excellent statement by Obama!

Forming an exploratory committee, as NBC News has reported, is not the same as announcing for President. It is a prudent first step by those thinking about running.

Thank you for your post.

As to the board's paparazzis that are making a mountain out of a political website's speculative story about Obama announcing on Oprah, they can post on that debunked thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3056260

[Eurobabe]

43. Like his answers already, impressed by his judgment

so far...

Let's see what transpires!

[fooj]

28. Obama's charm lost on America's black activists

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2546081,00.html

Obama's charm lost on America's black activists
Tony Allen-Mills, New York


HE is a media darling, a paparazzi target and a source of inspiration for millions of Democrats who dream of retaking the White House in 2008. But Senator Barack Obama, the charismatic African-American who is shaking up the presidential primary race, has not impressed some of America’s most powerful black activists.
Civil rights leaders who have dominated black politics for much of the past two decades have pointedly failed to embrace the 45-year-old Illinois senator who is considering a bid to become America’s first black president.



At a meeting of activists in New York last week, the Rev Jesse Jackson, the first black candidate to run for president, declined to endorse Obama. “Our focus right now is not on who’s running, because there are a number of allies running,” Jackson said.

The Rev Al Sharpton, the fiery New York preacher who joined the Democratic primary race in 2004, said he was considering another presidential run of his own. And Harry Belafonte, the calypso singer who became an influential civil rights activist, said America needed to be “careful” about Obama: “We don’t know what he’s truly about.”
<snip>

[davsand]

31. Hey, IndianaGreen, is it true Obama is announcing Wed on Oprah?

Don't yell at me--that was a JOKE!



Anyhow, I'll say I'm happy to hear he's looking at the fund raising part of it with an exploratory committee. THAT single factor will be a biggie in this race with so many heavy hitters out there. If the money isn't there to mount a campaign he may as well stay home...

Now, here's an interesting question for you all regarding Obama, Oprah, Da Bears and everyone else:

Since Obama is in a pretty good PR position right now (come on--he's had HOW much face time in the last 6 months including Time Magazine?) how do you think THAT will impact on his fund raising abilities? Will that media frenzy hurt him with the serious big money folks or will it put him in a position to do a large amount of grassroots fund raising like Dean did the last time?

I'd think that would be an interesting discussion to have...


Laura

[IndianaGreen]

33. Media frenzies are often the kiss of death for any candidate

I think John Edwards is the one in the strongest position. His speech about Congress stopping Bush got real good coverage, while Hillary is hiding behind the troops. How convenient that she was out of town when Condi, Gates, and the other Bush henchmen were testifying before Congress on the troop surge. This Texas 2-step from hers won't hold water for long!

The best thing for Obama is to be tested during the campaign. He will either succeed or fail.

As to the big money folks, I think many of them are leery of Hillary because they think she will lose. A Hillary nomination means a major antiwar march on Denver during the Democratic Convention. This is not the sort of divisive candidate we need.

Did you know that Obama met in New York recently with George Soros and some of his pals? Let's see how Obama goes on about organizing the grassroots. Two best-selling books will not hurt Obama's fortunes.

[benny05]

34. Isn't Soros

a Wes Clark supporter? I thought money to WesPAC last year.

[IndianaGreen]

36. Soros is against the war

and he has been generous to Democrats in the past. I've heard nothing about Soros backing any candidate exclusively. I can only speculate that Soros, and others like him, will contribute to the anti-Hillary field to see which of them emerges as a real contender.

Clark is polling in the very low single digits, and he has not given any indication that he is forming an exploratory committee, much less running for President. Until he does so...

[Mass]

32. Do they have a source? Obama has said this morning he will give his decision in a week or two.

They have been announcing that several times today, but they are the only ones promoting that, and, as much as I will be happy if he runs, I's like some confirmation.

[IndianaGreen]

35. Obama doens't have to announce for President until Spring, if he so chooses

but he needs to get an exploratory committee in place, and start raising some money and doing some organizing so that everything is in place for when he announces his candidacy.

I reported verbatim what Norah O'Donnell reported. No further details were provided. I expect Tweety and the rest of the chattering class on MSNBC to at least allude to it.

[benny05]

38. However, the Winter Dem conference is Feb 1-3

and the spotlight is on 2008 candidates.

[Telly Savalas]

39. I've heard he's going to announce on one of those wrestling shows.

While one of the wrestlers is talking, Obama will come from backstage and hit him from behind with a folding chair.

Then Obama will pick up the mike, give a mean stare, point at the camera and say: "You can run, but you can't hide McCain! I'm coming after you! And when I do, there will be hell to pay!" Then he'll throw the mike to the ground and strut out of the ring.

It's totally gonna happen. I read it at Drudge.

[IndianaGreen]

41. Obama Staffers: Senator Will File Presidential Papers (Tuesday Update)

This story was just posted in LBN (Tuesday) and it supports what NBC News reported earlier about Obama forming an exploratory committee, the first step to announcing for President.

Obama Staffers: Senator Will File Presidential Papers

CHICAGO -- Word from those who work for Sen. Barack Obama is that he will take the first step toward the U.S. Presidency and file the papers with the Federal Election Commission this week.

It will open an exploratory committee that declares his intentions to be a candidate for president, NBC 5's Mary Ann Ahern reported.

A more formal announcement is still several weeks away.

First, Obama must put in writing with the FEC that he's opening an exploratory committee that will allow him to hire staff and raise money.

The campaign will need offices in the key states of New Hampshire and Iowa -- but it will be headquartered right here in Chicago.

http://www.nbc5.com/news/10754532/detail.html

[Leilani]

42. Maybe after he files for an exploratory committee

then he can announce on Oprah that he's a candidate!!!

:evilgrin: