May I just remind people that Senator Obama has a book out — and that Colin Powell inaugurated the brilliant marketing ploy of toying with running for president when he had a book out? Obama is very young, has no record to speak of, no foreign-policy or military experience and not much more than autobiography to sell him. It would be fun if he ran in 2008, but it would be a little bit nuts unless by the middle of 2007 it really looked like nobody who voted for the Iraq War resolution (i.e., Hillary) could win an early Dem state — in which case his lack of a Senate vote on the matter would be helpful to him. I still say he’s basically selling a book and keeping his powder dry, but that he has 20 years to run for president and doesn’t have to go in 2008. He could just go back to Illinois and become governor first, which is always a better perch to go for the White House.