Charles Krauthammer on Barack Obama.
" Now that every columnist in the country has given him advice, here’s mine: He should run in ’08. He will lose in ’08."
"The reasons for running are clear."
(1) "At a time of ideological weariness, he has the persona: an affecting personal history, fine intelligence, remarkable articulateness, and refreshing charm." (2) "This is a uniquely open race." (3) "The country hungers for a black president."
"These are strong reasons for Obama to run. Nonetheless, he will not win. The reason is 9/11. The country will simply not elect a novice in wartime."
"Obama should be thinking ahead as well — using ’08 to cure his problem of inexperience. Run for the Democratic nomination and lose. He only has to do reasonably well in the primaries to become such a compelling national figure as to be invited onto the ticket as vice presidential nominee. If John Edwards, the runner-up in ’04 did well enough to be made running mate, a moderately successful Obama would be the natural choice for ’08.
Then, if the Democrats win, he will have all the foreign-policy credentials he needs for life. Even if the ticket loses, assuming he acquits himself reasonably well, he immediately becomes the presumptive front-runner in the next presidential cycle. And if by some miracle he hits the lottery and wins in ’08, well, then it is win-win-win.
He’s a young man with a future. But the future recedes. He needs to run now. And lose. And win by losing."
