Team Obama Taking Shape

So says the Chicago Tribune. The Trib lists
David Axelrod as the senator's right hand man.

Recently the long time political strategist was advising the new Governor of New York. Axelrod also spent time in John Edwards' camp in 2004. (Meanwhile, it seems his son was busy getting into court side fights with NBA players' wives. But I digress.)

There's also Axelrod's business partner David Plouffe who is listed as likely campaign manager.

Julianna Smoot, fund raiser extraordinaire and another veteran of Edwards '04 will reportedly be finance director.

Pollster Paul Harstad (left) seen below in a picture from his firm's website with Sen. Obama and Senator Ken Salazar...has apparently been tapped to reprise his '04 role.


And of course there's Michelle Obama... America's Next First Lady?

Barack and the Black Community

Blacks appear lukewarm on Barack Obama presidential bid (The Louisiana Weekly)

"(Taylor Media Services) It could be because he has no history in the Civil Rights Movement or because it appears he is being promoted by the white media. Regardless, several recent reports suggest that the presidential ambitions of Black Illinois senator Barack Obama is receiving only lukewarm support among other Blacks.

Radio talk show host George Wilson concluded recently that based on views expressed by his listeners, Obama is "not getting as much of an enthusiastic send-off from black people as he is from whites."

Sharpton Asks Where's the Obama Beef? (New York Press)

"Right now we're hearing a lot of media razzle dazzle," Sharpton said. "I'm not hearing a lot of meat, or a lot of content. I think when the meat hits the fire, we'll find out if it's just fat or if there's some real meat there."

Update: 1/15/07

"Regular" Black Folks Split on Obama (Chicago Sun-Times)

Black Leaders Wary of Obama (Newsmax.com)

Obama Announcement Imminent?

The blogs are abuzz that Senator Barack Obama will officially declare he'll run for president very soon.
Will he make history on Monday? (What would have been Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 78th birthday)

Political Insider: "There is growing speculation in Democratic political circles that Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will announce his presidential intentions on Martin Luther King Day. That timing would certainly highlight the historic nature of his candidacy."

Draft Obama Site: Genuinely Grassroots?

A keen-eye'd New York Observer peeped the very polished steez over at Obama4America.com. The article suggests the site is not so much a pure expression of the power of the people as a project of professional political operatives.

"Among the numerous unofficial "draft" Barack Obama websites that have been popping up lately, one struck me as particularly professional looking: Obama4America.com.The company that created the website, it turns out, is registered to Joel Berman, whose email address is for a California-based company called Catapult Strategies. That's the company co-founded by Howard Dean's former campaign manager Joe Trippi, who now works there "on a project-by-project basis," according to his bio.I called Berman to ask whether the website was part of some potentially more involved relationship with Obama, but after I introduced myself, he hurried me off the phone. (He said he was going into a meeting and would call me back.)"

Obama's Primary Concern

• Illinois House Speaker wants to aid Obama by changing primary date (AP)
• Edwards backer: Don't give Obama Advantage (Bloomington Pantagraph)
• Obama may get boost with earlier primary (Lincoln Courrier)
• To get in dance Illinois needs better date (Chicago Sun-Times)
  

Daily Show Obsesses about Obama Obsession

Presidential-Run Prep

• Hillary, Obama Load Up (New York Observer)
• Senator Barack Obama Appears on Larry King Live (CBS2 Chicago)
• Playing President in the Senate (Time)
• No Vieira Softballs for Stone Cold Barack Obama (NewsBusters)
• Morris: Obama can be whatever he wants to be (Salem Statesman Journal)

Some Actual Work Gets Done in Senate

"WASHINGTON Jan 11, 2007 (AP)— Potential presidential rivals John McCain and Barack Obama are joining with newly independent Sen. Joe Lieberman on a plan they say would reduce annual global-warming gases by two-thirds by mid-century."

Climate Bill Sets Stage for Debate in Congress (ABC News)

Chillin' in Chicago with Conan

Cooped Up in Coach

Stella's Column (Chicago Sun-Times)
"THAT'S CLASS! U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, were spotted seated in coach for the eight-hour trip back from their Hawaii vacation. This is one smart couple! ... They are on the cover of the February issue of Ebony, hitting newsstands Monday. Michelle's birthday is Wednesday."

americasnextfirstlady.com

Obamas on Cover of Ebony

Senator Barack and Michelle Obama: America's Next First Couple? (BlackNews.com)
February Ebony: Barack and Michelle Obama (skepticalbrotha)
Ebony: America's Next First Couple? (America's Next First Lady)

Obama Makes a Splash

Barack Obama: Beach Babe (WISN TV Milwaukee)
Beach photo suits Obama just fine (Chicago Sun-Times)
Obama Uncovered (America's Next First Lady)
Carl Cameron Uses Photo of Barack Obama on the Beach in an Entirely Unrelated Story (News Hounds)