Question re: Obama 2004 convention speech

[KnaveRupe]

in 2004, Barack Obama was an unknown Illinois state legislator who was running for the US Senate. In June of 2004, his supposed Republican opponent, Illinois governor Ryan, withdrew from the race following the release of his divorce records. Alan Keyes entered the race in August to provide nominal opposition only - there was never any chance he would actually beat Obama.

Obama is certainly a gifted, brilliant speaker - there's absolutely no doubt about that. His speech at the 2004 convention was fantastic. I and every other political wonk I know were all talking about it the day after - "Wow! Did you see the guy who gave the keynote speech? Damn! He was amazing!" And we all wondered EXACTLY THE SAME THING: "Who the hell IS that guy?!"

And I guess that's something that I've been wondering about for a while now - ever since Obama announced. How does someone rise from that kind of obscurity to become the presidential front runner?

I'm not trying to slam Obama, or to call his experience into question. I'm more curious about the PROCESS that got him where he is today. His national political exposure really began at the 2004 convention and that unbelievable speech he gave. Of all the people in the Democratic Party who could have been tapped to give that speech, why was Barack Obama chosen?

Again, this isn't any kind of an anti-Obama post; he's not my first choice, but I don't hate the guy. And I'm not saying there's some seekrit conspiracy at work here either. I just think that the Obama-phenomenon really began in July of 2004 in Boston, and I'm curious who the power-brokers were that jump-started it.

SOMEBODY decided that this guy was a serious up-and-comer; I can't imagine anyone on team Clinton, who are a large part of the Democratic Party National Power Structure, would have wanted an ambitious, young, gifted orator getting that kind of a national stage if there was a chance he'd eventually compete with Hillary. So how'd he get tapped to give that speech? And how-in-the-hell did the Clintonites in the party LET that happen?

Anyone have any insight into the inner workings of the party at that level?

[andyrowe]

1. It was Kerry

I heard something on NPR a few days ago about how Kerry had been following Obama's career. Kerry chose Obama to be the keynote speaker at that convention.

[jackson_dem]

2. Really?

If true that is impressive that Kerry followed the career of a state legislator in a far away state.

[andyrowe]

3. It is.

I will track down my source on this.

[kevsand]

4. Your description of Obama at the time leaves out the most important half.

He was a state legislator who was already the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate from Illinois. That made him one of only thirty some Democratic candidates nationwide running for the most important elected federal office other than president. As a result, a lot of the people playing on the national stage at that point came to know about him, and most who did were impressed by his abilities and history.

[BlackVelvet04]

5. Yet one more reason to dislike Kerry. n/t