(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
The stakes could not be higher for Democratic candidates than in Iowa, which holds the nation's first voting for the presidential nomination. Here, Obama arrives at a "rural issues summit" on a family farm in Adel — one in a series of campaign events intended to illustrate his keenness to hear from the public to shape ideas and work toward change.
...To paraphrase Michelle Obama, the candidacy of Barack Obama is the first time I've ever felt like an American. I'd completely given up on the democratic process in this country. I became disenchanted because it felt like voters were put in a situation to choose the lesser of two evils. It seemed like a shell game, a con.
Like many people, I was skeptical at first about Obama's chances. I wasn't sure if he could overcome the racism that still exists in America, and the self-hatred in certain segments of the black community. I also wasn't sure if he could raise the amount of money it takes to run a presidential campaign.
But he has run a very sophisticated campaign,...
High five
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
The youth demographic is often seen as apathetic, but Max Swinton, 5, puts the lie to that, greeting Obama at Cedar Bridge County Park in Iowa. The campaign often emphasizes Obama's relative youth, casting him as the only candidate able to deliver real change, and as a model for the future.
Like many people, I was skeptical at first about Obama's chances. I wasn't sure if he could overcome the racism that still exists in America, and the self-hatred in certain segments of the black community. I also wasn't sure if he could raise the amount of money it takes to run a presidential campaign.
But he has run a very sophisticated campaign,...
High five
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
The youth demographic is often seen as apathetic, but Max Swinton, 5, puts the lie to that, greeting Obama at Cedar Bridge County Park in Iowa. The campaign often emphasizes Obama's relative youth, casting him as the only candidate able to deliver real change, and as a model for the future.
