Why do you think Obama

[nevergiveup]

is drawing such large crowds? At first I thought maybe the crowds were made up mostly of college kids but if you study them there seems to be a mix of ages. What do you think would motivate 15,000 people to stand outside in 10 degree temperatures to watch his announcement?

[tyne]

1. I think it's

hope.

[Kelly Rupert]

3. I think three of those letters are dead-on. n/t

[AtomicKitten]

5. *

pen?
hop?
poe?

[Kelly Rupert]

6. *

hype.

[AtomicKitten]

8. I think Obama has the right stuff to grow into the hype.

Give him a chance.

[Kelly Rupert]

9. So do I.

I think he might turn out to be worth the praise. But at this point, it's still hype. Doesn't mean he's a bad candidate. He's popular because of his potential instead of his accomplishments. But adoring praise for a potential is practically the definition of hype.

[AtomicKitten]

11. I agree.

But it rallies the downtrodden, the hopeless, and the cynical.

I think America could use a big heaping spoonful of hope right about now.

[sandnsea]

14. We had the accomplishments in 2000 & 2004

Nobody gave a shit.

Obama is popular because people believe he will step outside the partisanship and lead the country to where we ought to be.

I recognize that the right will smear and belittle anybody, but maybe if people see it done to a new face with no baggage, they'll realize what's been happening and finally demand it stop.

[AtomicKitten]

2. His 2004 keynote speech at the Democratic Convention.

He was brilliant, charismatic, and compelling.

[SmokingJacket]

4. Possibly being a part of history.

I was in Little Rock when Clinton won, and got to see him that very night -- it was a big thrill and one I'll never forget.

Obama has as much of a chance of being our next president as any of the other top candidates -- more than many...

[illinoisprogressive]

7. I did that. Because he is the most exciting person out there. I love his ideas

his message. I see him as the new FDR. the guy who people see, and just know he is the guy who will bring us back from the brink and do it with a new ideas and view of things. When he speaks you are mezmerized. he carries you on a ride of emotions. And you leave knowing there is something better still out there waiting. You know he can put us on the right course.
Just as the people of 1932 had no reason to put all the trust into FDR who was a virtual unknown after being out of politics for so long. A man who couldn't walk. But, the people just knew he was the guy who could save the country. Not the experienced voices and same old ideas. Someone new and fresh and exciting.

[Sherman A1]

10. I saw him speak at a McCaskill rally

just before the 06 election. My view on him and why he draws crowds comes down to one word - Inspiration. I think it is something that this country is desperately looking to find. We of course need good ideas and good management of government and all the things that go with that.

But we want to be Inspired... JFK did it in the 60's, there are those who might say Reagan gave us a good feeling about ourselves in the 1980's (I couldn't stand him and thought he was the worst up until the present, but he could inspire people)

I was talking at work yesterday with a social and fiscal conservative co-worker about the field of candidates and when we got to Obama we both agreed that he is charismatic. I brought up the topic of Inspirational and he didn't disagree with me.

We have huge problems and we have always had problems, we will have problems in the future as well....It's about how we look at ourselves and into ourselves to find the solutions.

My 2 cents --

[brazos121200]

12. I compare Obama's appeal to that of JFK's in the 1960 election.

That year, Kennedy drew huge crowds, he had a certain charisma which I also see in Obama. JFK was able to appeal to young people with his vision of the future, and he drew many young people into politics for the first time that year. Obama's speaking style is very similar to JFK's, and I think he could go far if he keeps up the effort, and with a little luck could end up as the next president. Obama was in Austin last week and drew a huge crowd for being so early in the campaign.

[illinoisprogressive]

13. I heard that the Austin rally drew 20 to 22,000 people and it rained.

someone said there were people in the trees.

[Colobo]

15. He inspires me... he makes me want to get involved

And most of my students, classmates and co-workers (T.A. and grad student at the local university) feel the same way. Obama is a natural leader.

[zulchzulu]

16. I think people want to be part of history as well as see him as a unifier

He's dynamic and his personality even crosses party lines. It's up to him to maintain his message of hope, but I can tell he is smart. I think he's like a very smart chess player than can see all the possibilities of the next few moves. That's a great skill to have in the world of politics.

A while back, I thought he was peaking too soon. But it turns out he's in it for the long haul. Yes, it's still over 300 days until the Iowa caucus and beyond... anything can happen between now and then.

From my and other Obama fans I've talked to, if you give him a chance, you just can't help but like the guy.

[patrice]

17. He did an excellent job on NPR's All Things Considered this p.m.

including fielding questions about Race: Does/would it make you a different President? How? Simple, not preachy, no discomfort, believable answers.

[TwilightGardener]

18. Three words

Brains, charisma, integrity