Obama going on a well deserved vacation

[baghdad_bush]

guardian.co.uk US election: Obama to take break from campaign to soak up Hawaiian sun

The Democratic presidential hopeful is scheduled to begin a weeklong trip to Hawaii on FridayElana Schor in Washington guardian.co.uk, Wednesday August 06 2008 21:02 BST Article historyBarack Obama is about to go where he has rarely ventured during his gruelling, groundbreaking 19-month campaign: on holiday.

The Democratic presidential hopeful is scheduled to begin a weeklong trip to Hawaii on Friday, taking his wife and daughters but leaving behind most of the huge entourage that shadows his every step.

The holiday is a homecoming of sorts for Obama, who spent much of his early years in Hawaii. Attending the top-flight Punahou school in Honolulu, the future candidate was nicknamed Barry and known for his basketball skills.

Obama also will get the chance to visit his Hawaii-based grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, whom he has not seen for more than a year.

What he may pass up is a chance to be photographed. Obama took some flak from the media last year after a candid shot of him jogging in swim trunks made it into People magazine's Beach Babes lineup.

This year, with John McCain often jabbing Obama as too much of "a celebrity" to lead effectively, the Democrat is likely to pass up even a flattering camera angle.

Unflattering pictures can provide even more ammunition for political opponents. The photo of then-presidential nominee John Kerry awkwardly windsurfing during the summer of 2004 was the butt of jokes from chat show hosts as well as Republicans for weeks.

Despite Obama's history in Hawaii, it is one of only two states – in addition to Alaska – where he has yet to campaign. In between the sun and fun of his vacation, then, Obama could be called to an event or two. There is a private campaign fundraiser scheduled at Honolulu's Halekulani hotel next week, according to the local Hawaiian media.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/06/barackobama.uselections2008?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

[Redstone]

1. Everybody needs a break now and again.

Redstone

[rebel with a cause]

2. Never watch CNN but

stopped on it today because they were focusing on Obama...positively!! The reporter stated that Obama was going on vacation and Wolf said it was a much needed vacation and wished Obama a good rest. WOW!!! Wolf actually let his right leaning attitude slip for a minute.

[4themind]

3. Good a time as any before the election

The olympics will take up coverage time, and he can relax before the convention, McCain may launch some more attacks but they'll be diluted as well, they also like to try and catch obama after the counter punch but he'll have a built in excuse for not doing so for a week anyway so they may save their ammo till then