Today they anointed a son of Camelot as Ted Kennedy passed a torch to Barack Obama by backing the Illinois Senator in his bid for the Democrat Party’s 2008 Presidential Nomination. Can Obama carry the torch of “change” and “hope” all the way to the Democratic Party’s Presidential Nomination with the White House next in line? Sportsbook.com has Barack Obama at 3 to 2 odds to secure the nomination.
"There was another time, when another young candidate was running for President and challenging America to cross a New Frontier," Kennedy thundered. "He faced public criticism from the preceding Democratic President, who was widely respected in the party. Harry Truman said we needed 'someone with greater experience,' and added, 'May I urge you to be patient.' And John Kennedy replied, 'The world is changing. The old ways will not do. It is time for a new generation of leadership.'"
“Change” is the bi-partisan message of the country in the 2008 Presidential campaigns and on the Democratic side, Barack Obama has “Hope” while Billary represents more of the same. Teddy believes, as do other members of the Democratic establishment, that Barack Obama is ready to step in as President of the United States on day one. Let’s not forget Obama is older now then Clinton was when he secured the Presidency in 1992.
“It’s about the past vs the future,” stated Barack Obama.
"To have him offer such a powerful endorsement, I think, will mean a lot," Obama told Karen Tumulty in an interview for Time Magazine. "Obviously, there are people who are still getting familiar with me nationwide. Their vision of this day will make them give me a close look."
The timing of the Kennedy endorsements were made before the South Carolina Primary victory. Hillary Clinton’s campaign was hoping that the Kennedy’s would give her the endorsement. JFK’s brother was upset at the way Bill Clinton interjected himself into his wife Hillary’s campaign. Clinton attacked Obama using racial divide harming the party while on the South Carolina Primary campaign trail. Kennedy told Clinton he did not like what was happening and could not remain neutral. Kennedy, a Democratic Heavyweight, put the Clinton’s on notice that he is the chief political surrogate for Obama now and won’t have a problem weighing in to counter Bill Clinton. In a symbolic gesture, the Massachusetts Senator sat next to Obama at President George W. Bush’s last State of the Union Address.
Let’s not forget that Ted’s older brother Bobby Kennedy discovered the Latino vote for the Democratic Party back in the 60’s and now its the fastest growing and most sought after demographic. The Kennedy endorsement puts the entire Latino community in play now, whereas before it was a Hillary Clinton stronghold. Obama can pull the Latino vote away from Hillary Clinton with the Kennedy endorsements. It will be interesting to see who New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson endorses.
“At the end of the day this not about anyone else besides the candidates,” stated Hillary Clinton on a conference call to reports when asked for her reaction the Kennedy clan’s endorsement of her chief rival. Sportsbook.com has New York Senator Hillary Clinton as the 6 to 5 favorite to become the next President of the United States.
When the brother and daughter of the 35th President of the United States pass the torch its a big event that practically overshadowed the President Bush’s final State of the Union Address.
“It was a big day for Barack Obama,” stated Delaware Senator Joe Biden about the Kennedy endorsements. “This is a historic moment.”
Obama is walking a razor’s edge with the comparisons to John F Kennedy but Barack recognizes the potential pitfalls. When asked by Keith Olbermann what he would have done different if he was giving the State of the Union Address, Obama stated: “We need a bold economic stimulus package….we invest in Green jobs….that we have a plan to exit from Iraq.”
All of the Democratic Presidential candidates agreed not to campaign in the states that pushed up their primaries which included Michigan and Florida. When asked about campaigning in Florida, Obama stated “once I am the nominee, I will spend time there.”
Democratic Nomination Betting Odds by Sportsbook.com
Barack Obama: 3 – 2
Hillary Clinton: 1 – 2
John Edwards: 50 – 1
Mike Gravel: 100 – 1
