Barack's political future if he doesn't win the GE?

[galaxy21]

Let's assume he is the nominee, say either the Muslim rumours, or something other slander works on the more ignorant of the political electorate, or people just decide america's going great and they want four more years of McSame...

What's Barack's future like?

No disrespect to them, but I'd really hate for him to remembered in the same terms as Kerry, Dukakis or Mondale. Obama deserves a lot better than that. I mean, arguably he's already iconic.


Does he run again? He's still youngish and it is possible. But Michelle has said she doesn't want to put her family through it again. Also, his is a type of 'now or never' message that can't be put off another four years.

Obviously, he'll stay in the senate for a while but what then? Governor of New York?

[Frances]

1. Don't want to think that way

But definitely he wouldn't be governor of New York since he lives in Illinois.

[Cant trust em]

2. Become a leader in the senate

his biggest drag is his lack of experience. Once he can kick that monkey, he'll be practically unstoppable. Imagine if he doesn't win the nomination, in 4 years Rev. Wright will be a distant memory.

[msongs]

3. supporting the war in iraq and economic sanctions against iran? nt

[galaxy21]

4. Honestly, if Obama can't win it this year...I don't know if he ever can

[DesertFlower]

7. i agree. nt

[anigbrowl]

5. He'll cross that bridge when he comes it.

He might just as easily pull an Al Gore and move beyond partisan politics altogether.

[eleny]

6. Governor of Illinois

[griffi94]

8. if he wins the nomination and doesn't win the general

he won't run for president again, and if he did he wouldn't get anywhere as close as he is now.
he moved to the head of the line, and many people are supporting him because he looks like a winner, but should he not win, expect some serious blowback. the moderate and conservative democrats will be pissed that the younger new blood democrats pushed a loser on to the party in a year when it should have been a lock. as far as his future, maybe gov of illinois, maybe senate leader depending on how the party leaders view him should he lose. i think he's in a really hard spot if he doesn't win the general, and i think a lot of his supporters who endorsed him will be in similar hard spots. the kennedys can get away with thumbing their nose at the party leadership, but they're about the only ones who can. i'm expecting bill richardsons endorsement of obama to bite him in the ass should obama not become president.

[JayFredMuggs]

14. Funny how so many people wanted Gore to run again this year

But Obama, it's a different standard.

Why?

[griffi94]

19. when gore ran

he had been vp for 8 years. he ran a competitive campaign in a year with a 3rd party spoiler.
obama was mostly an unknown 4 years ago, he's the junior senator from illinois and he's jumped to the head of the line on his message of hope and change, but if hope and change doesn't win this year, nobody will buy it next time.

[kevinmc]

9. He said just a few days ago if he loses it's not the end of the world .......

when he was describing something he said to one of his kids. So having that attitude he will probably win and not have to deal with it.

[galaxy21]

10. Yeah, I do believe he'll be fine if he doesn't win, you never really got that feeling with Hillary

She really wants it. Which, I'm not judging her for, but if you want it THAT badly, you should probably rethink your reasons for running.

[PseudoIntellect]

11. I don't think he would run again.

Didn't he say by 2012 he feels he'd be too detached from the common American and too attached to political agendas in Washington, D.C.?

[JayFredMuggs]

15. You have a link?

Where did he say those exact words?

[BzaDem]

18. Here.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/28/537388.aspx

--snip--
Obama told his supporters if he doesn't win in 2008, he won't be trying again later on. "My wife and I were talking the other day, and she said we're not doing this again," he said in Williamsburg, Iowa.

But it's not just because Michelle Obama misses her husband and wants her home. Obama said his wife said they will be different people in eight years and not be able to connect to ordinary "normal" Americans -- unlike now, when it is just five years since they still had law school loans and were living in a two small condo with no college fund started for their kids.

"We'll still be good people hopefully but we'll be in a different orbit, in a different circle," Obama said. "Our worries will be different and our concerns will be different. We're already there but at least we still remember what that was like."

"I thought that was a wonderful insight," he continued. "One of the things that I think I offer in this race is, you know, the way she put it was, we still remember what it is like to be normal. But I think that's part of what happens when you are in Washington for very long time. You lose touch with that. Then it becomes harder to relinquish power."

--snip--

[JayFredMuggs]

22. he'd be too detached from the common American and too attached to political agendas in Washington, D

That's not what I read in your quote.

[JayFredMuggs]

12. His future is bright, We all know that.

I have little doubt that Obama can beat McSame in the general election. I base this upon what he has done in the past year. If I am wrong, and McSame wins the election, Obama may well run again in 2012, when people will need him even more, and be so sorry for their poor choice in 2008.

There is no way this nation will be better off in 2012 with McSame as our President.

Don't worry yet. And NEVER worry about Obama.

[galaxy21]

13. In 2012 will he be the 'New Obama' like 'New Nixon?'

[JayFredMuggs]

16. Disagree, Obama will be the same

America will be smarter, and realize they made a big mistake in 2008.

[griffi94]

20. right

like they did in 2004.

[jackson_dem]

17. Another Kerry, except he won't get anything done in the senate like Kerry

[Midwestern Democrat]

21. Another Dukakis - he would be seen as a bad nominee who caused

the Democratic Party to lose an election it otherwise - with a different nominee - likely would have won. His political career wouldn't be over - he could concentrate on his Senate career or run for Governor of Illinois, but he would never be nominated for president again.