Preview of Obama on Leno

[illinoisprogressive]

BURBANK, Calif. -- Is Barack Obama worried about polls that show Hillary Rodham Clinton leading the Democratic presidential field?

"We've got a long way to go," the Illinois senator said Wednesday on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

"Hillary is not the first politician in Washington to declare 'Mission Accomplished' a little too soon," Obama said, referring to President Bush's 2003 speech in which he stood beneath a banner with those words and declared the end of major combat in Iraq.

"When your name is Barack Obama, you're always the underdog," the senator quipped.

In an interview that ranged from serious to silly, the Democratic presidential candidate predicted that his wife, Michelle, could best former President Clinton in a debate. He also groused about Bush's Iran policy and fessed up to sloppy housekeeping.

"I admit that I am not always great about hanging up my clothes," Obama said.

"And you want to be president?" Leno scolded.

"I am not a perfect man," the senator said.

Obama's appearance on Leno's stage was one of three talk-show interviews he has scheduled on a swing through Los Angeles. He also was taping segments for Public Broadcasting Service's "Tavis Smiley," to air Thursday, and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," which will run Oct. 29.

Obama will be back in the area later this week for a series of private fundraisers, including an event at the home of Universal Studios chief Ron Meyer.

Leno needled Obama about claims that he's a distant relative of Vice President Dick Cheney. Lynne Cheney, the vice president's wife, says she uncovered a long-ago tie between the two families while researching a book.

Obama insisted the newfound relationship would have limits.

"I don't want to be invited to the family hunting party," he said, alluding to a 2006 accident in which Cheney wounded a friend with shotgun pellets.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-obama-leno,1,2356335.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[silverojo]

1. Oh, please tell me Obama was joking about this:

"In an interview that ranged from serious to silly, the Democratic presidential candidate predicted that his wife, Michelle, could best former President Clinton in a debate."

Yeah, right...Bill Clinton is the greatest campaigner and debater in modern history. If Michelle Obama were good enough to best him in a debate, why isn't SHE running?