Rising Star

by David J. Garrow

  34. Obama and Michelle on The Oprah Winfrey Show, 18 October 2006 (taped 3 October); Clarence Page, “Oprah, Obama, and the Leadership Gap,” CT, 1 October 2006; “Obama Is Riding a Wave of Celebrity,” CNG, 4 October 2006; Frank Radosevich II, “‘Obama Fever’ Grips Peoria,” PJS, 5 October 2006; Jenee Osterheldt, “Sen. Barack Obama Gets My Vote,” KC Star, 7 October 2006; Ezra Klein, “Too Soon for Obama,” LAT, 8 October 2006; “Everywhere but Illinois,” BND, 10 October 2006; Eric Zorn, “It’s Simple Scandals That Shock,” CT, 17 September 2006; Carol Marin, “‘Man Behind the Curtain’ Faces Lots of Questions,” CST, 27 September 2006, p. 55; U.S. v. Stuart Levine and Antoin Rezko, “Superseding Indictment,” No. 05-CR-691, 5 October 2006; Rick Pearson et al., “Top Blagojevich Adviser Indicted,” and David Jackson and John Chase, “Rezko’s Life a Story of Pizza and Politics,” CT, 12 October 2006; Natasha Korecki et al., “It’s ‘Pay to Play’ . . . on Steroids,” Michael Sneed, “The Rezko Scandal,” and Korecki and Dave McKinney, “Where Is He?,” CST, 12 October 2006; Jeff Coen and Matt O’Connor, “U.S. Doesn’t Know Where Rezko Is,” CT, 13 October 2006; Obama on the CBS Evening News, 13 October 2006; Michael Tackett, “Sen. Obama, Take a Chance in 2008 Race,” CT, 15 October 2006; Kathy Chaney and Erin Meyer, “Rezko Gives to Local Pols,” HPH, 18 October 2006, pp. 1–2; Coen and O’Connor, “Rezko Is Expected to Show Up,” CT, 19 October 2006; Coen, “Rezko Pleads Not Guilty,” CT, 20 October 2006; Chaney, “Obama Regrets Land Deal He Made with Tony Rezko,” HPH, 8 November 2006, pp. 1–2; Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz, “The Rezko Connection,” ABCNews.com, 10 January 2008; Mike Robinson, “Obama’s Relationship with Alleged Fixer,” AP, 22 January 2008; Bob Secter et al., “Obama, Rezko Ties Again at Issue,” CT, 23 January 2008; Secter and David Jackson, “Funds Tough to Figure for Rezko Aid,” CT, 31 January 2008; Dan Morain, “Obama to Be in Background of Trial,” LAT, 3 March 2008.

  35. Publishers Weekly, 2 October 2006, p. 52; Jennifer Senior, “Dreaming of Obama,” NYM, 2 October 2006; Mike Dorning, “Obama’s New Book Laments ‘Empathy Deficit,’” CT, 12 October 2006; James L. Merriner, “Barack Obama for Prez,” CST, 15 October 2006, p. B12; James Wensits, “‘Red to Blue’ Bolsters Donnelly,” South Bend Tribune, 17 October 2006, p. B1; Kurt Erickson, “Obama Durbin’s ’08 Pick,” BP, 17 October 2006, p. A1; Michiko Kakutani, “Foursquare Politics, with a Dab of Dijon,” NYT, 17 October 2006; John Balzar, “Obama Finds Common Ground on Political Plain,” LAT, 17 October 2006; Eric Krol, “Obama Is Not a Morning Person,” CDH, 17 October 2006, p. 6; Obama, TAOH, pp. 11, 114, 121, 47, 223, 245, 333, 251, 254, 256, 248; Lynn Sweet, “Obama Riding Momentum,” CST, 19 October 2006, p. 47; Glenn Thrush, “Is He Waiting in the Wings?,” Newsday, 19 October 2006; Obama, “My Spiritual Journey,” Time, 23 October 2006, pp. 52ff. (Web posted 16 October); Jodi Kantor, “For a New Political Age, a Self-Made Man,” NYT, 28 August 2008; Evan Thomas et al., “Barack Obama: How He Did It,” Newsweek, 17 November 2008 (Web posted 4 November); Melody Spann-Cooper in Becoming Barack, Little Dizze Home Video, 2009; Heilemann and Halperin, Game Change, pp. 58–59.

  36. Jill Zuckman, “Obama Dips Toe in 2008 Waters,” CT, 18 October 2006; Dennis Conrad, “Obama’s Book Hints That Presidential Run Could Be Family Decision,” AP, 18 October 2006; Lynn Sweet, “Obama Riding Momentum,” CST, 19 October 2006, p. 47; David Brooks, “Run, Barack, Run,” NYT, 19 October 2006; “Charismatic Obama Looks Presidential,” SJR, 19 October 2006, p. 6; Obama on Today, NBC, on All Things Considered, NPR, on Larry King Live, CNN, and on Charlie Rose, PBS, 19 October 2006; John Kass, “Politicians Don’t Get Much Past Readers,” and “Is This Obama’s Time?,” CT, 20 October 2006; Margaret Talev, “A Conversation with Sen. Obama,” KRDC, 20 October 2006; Obama at the John F. Kennedy Library Forum, 20 October 2006; Maureen Dowd, “Obama’s Project Runway,” NYT, 21 October 2006; Frank Rich, “Obama Is Not a Miracle Elixir,” NYT, 22 October 2006; Clarence Page, “Enjoy, Senator, It’ll Get Worse,” CT, 22 October 2006.

  37. Christine Schiavo, “‘Presence of Greatness’: Sen. Obama Gets a Rock-Star Reception in Phila.,” and “Verbatim: Sen. Obama on ‘The Audacity of Hope,’ Iraq and More,” PI, 22 October 2006, pp. B1, C2; Michael Kazin, “Rising Star,” WP, 22 October 2006; Obama on Meet the Press, NBC, 22 October 2006, Adam Nagourney and Jeff Zeleny, “Crowd-Pleaser from Illinois Considers White House Run,” and Bob Herbert, “The Obama Bandwagon,” NYT, 23 October 2006; Dan Balz, “Obama Says He’ll Consider a 2008 Bid for the Presidency,” WP, 23 October 2006, p. A1; Chuck Neubauer, “Obama Admits He’s Thinking ’08,” LAT, 23 October 2006; William Neikirk, “Audacity of a Hopeful,” CT, 23 October 2006; Lynn Sweet, “Obama Mulling ’08 Presidential Bid,” CST, 23 October 2006; Edward Luce, “A Subtle but Effective Political Soft Sell,” FT, 23 October 2006; Obama’s 23 October 2006 American Magazine Conference interview with David Remnick, Pheonix, AZ; Obama on The Tavis Smiley Show, 23 October 2006; Ken Silverstein, “Barack Obama Inc. The Birth of a Washington Machine,” Harper’s, November 2006, pp. 31–40; Press Release, “Senator Obama’s Office Responds to Misleading Harper’s Magazine Story,” 23 October 2006, Obama.Senate.gov; Katharine Q. Seelye, “Obama Offers More Variations from the Norm,” NYT, 24 October 2006; Richard Cohen, “Why Not Obama?,” WP, 24 October 2006; “Obama Needs to Keep Feet on Ground,” BP, 24 October 2006, p. A6; “Iowa a Good Place to Make a Tough Decision,” QCT, 25 October 2006; Jon Friedman, “Obama Fails to Wow a Magazine Conference,” Marketwatch.com, 25 October 2006; Plouffe, The Audacity to Win, p. 6.

  38. Obama on Hannity & Colmes, Fox News, 24 October 2006; Kevin Simpson, “Dems’ ‘Rock Star’ Rocks Colorado,” DP, 25 October 2006, p. A1; Newton N. Minow, “Why Obama Should Run for President,” CT, 26 October 2006; Richard Halstead, “Obama Mania Visits Marin,” Marin Independent Journal, 26 October 2006; Charles Krauthammer, “Winning by Losing,” WP, 27 October 2006; Jacob Weisberg, “The Audacity of the Democratic Hopeful,” FT, 27 October 2006; Doug Ward, “‘Obamamania’ Taking Off in U.S.,” Vancouver Sun, 28 October 2006, p. A15; Carla Hall, “A Rising Star from Illinois Makes Some Noise in L.A.,” LAT, 28 October 2006; Danny Westneat, “Obama Doesn’t Dazzle, but He Does Intrigue,” Seattle Times, 29 October 2006, p. B1; Isadora Vail, “Senator, Star: Obama Greets Frenzied Crowd,” AAS, 29 October 2006, p. B1; Elizabeth Taylor, “Q&A with Barack Obama,” CT, 29 October 2006; Bill Lambrecht, “Obama’s Book Tells What He Thinks,” SLPD, 29 October 2006, p. F8; Bill Maxwell, “Senator, You Better Walk Before You Run,” SPT, 29 October 2006, p. P1; Howard Kurtz, “Obama? So Handsome, and Probably Delicious,” WP, 30 October 2006; Meggen Lindsay, “Obama Inspires His Minnesota Fans,” SPPP, 31 October 2006, p. A1; Bob von Sternberg, “Obama Knows How to Attract a Crowd,” MST, 31 October 2006, p. B3; Graeme Zielinski, “‘He’s Our Jack Kennedy’: Obama Excites Milwaukee as He Stumps for State Dems,” MCT, 31 October 2006, p. A1; Garrett M. Graff, “The Legend of Barack Obama,” Washingtonian, November 2006, pp. 68–71, 122–24; Anne E. Kornblut, “A Senate Newcomer, Helping Fellow Democrats,” NYT, 1 November 2006; Art Sims, “Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Bash a Celebration Fit for a King,” CD, 1 November 2006, p. 15; CNN Newsroom, 1 November 2006, 2 P.M.; Christine G. Sabathia, “Sen. Barack Obama Talks One-on-One,” LAS, 2–8 November 2006, p. A1; Joel McNally, “No Denying That History Is Calling Upon Obama,” MCT, 4 November 2006; David Mendell, “Backers’ Mission Is Political, Personal,” CT, 17 January 2007; DJG interview with Newton Minow.

  39. Ray Gibson and David Jackson, “Rezko Owns Vacant Lot Next to Obama’s Home,” CT, 1 November 2006; Stanley Crouch and Alan Wolfe, “Barack Obama’s The Audacity of Hope,” Slate, 1 November 2006; Crouch, “What Obama Isn’t: Black Like Me,” NYDN, 2 November 2006, p. 35; John Kass, “Obama Fuzzy on Fence That Tony Built,” and Eric Zorn, “Letter to Voters a Letdown for Obama Idealists,” CT, 2 November 2006; Mark Brown, “Obama’s Dealings with Rezko Buy a Parcel of Questions,” CST, 2 November 2006, p. 2; Obama on Talk of the Nation, NPR, 2 November 2006; “Obama, Rezko,” and “And
the Inevitable Backlash,” CT, 3 November 2006; Pamela Stallsmith and Kiran Krishnamurthy, “Big Names Stump for Webb,” RTD, 3 November 2006, p. A6; Dana Heupel, “Backed for President,” SJR, 4 November 2006, p. 1; Sarah Baxter, “Obama Mania,” Sunday Times Magazine (London), 5 November 2006, pp. 26ff.; Jackson and Gibson, “Obama: I Regret Deals with Rezko,” CT, 5 November 2006; Dave McKinney and Chris Fusco, “Obama Spells Out ‘Regret’ After Land Deal with Rezko,” and Carol Marin, “Machine’s Shadow Creeps Over Obama,” CST, 5 November 2006, pp. A4, B6; Rebecca Traister, “Obama on Tour,” Salon, 5 November 2006; William Hershey and Laura Bischoff, “Democrats Optimistic Tuesday Will Bring Victory,” DDN, 5 November 2006, p. A31; Sarah Hollander and Rena A. Koontz, “Democrats Urge Voters to Raise State Wage,” CPD, 5 November 2006, p. B3; Gloria Borger, “Does Barack Really Rock?” U.S. News, 6 November 2006; “Obama’s Star Power Dims in Rezko’s Orbit,” CCB, 6 November 2006, p. 28; Lee Hermiston, “Obama Pumps Up Iowa Crowd,” DMR, 6 November 2006, p. A6; Mike Glover, “Obama Keeps Mind on 2006 Vote, for Now,” AP, 6 November 2006; Lynn Sweet, “The Obama Chronicles: Waukegan Interview Transcript,” CST, 6 November 2006; Obama on Nightline, ABC, 6 November 2008; Shailagh Murray, “Eyeing 2008, Political Stars Ran Hard for Others,” WP, 7 November 2006; Jeff Zeleny and Kate Zernike, “For Democrats, Time to Savor Victory at Last,” NYT, 8 November 2006; John Dickerson, “Barackwater,” Slate, 14 December 2006; Peter Slevin, “Obama Says He Regrets Land Deal with Fundraiser,” WP, 17 December 2006; Tim Novak, “Lot Next to Obama Can Be Yours for $1.5M,” CST, 10 October 2007, p. 28; James L. Merriner, “Mr. Inside Out,” CM, November 2007; Obama’s 14 March 2008 CST interview; Carol Felsenthal, “The Making of a First Lady,” CM, February 2009.

  40. Bill Reynolds, “Welcome to Obama’s Family,” PJ, 15 February 2007, p. C1; Jodi Kantor and Jeff Zeleny, “Michelle Obama Adds New Role to Balancing Act,” NYT, 18 May 2007; Mike Dorning and Christi Parsons, “Carefully Crafting the Obama ‘Brand,’” CT, 12 June 2007; Perry Bacon Jr., “The Outsider’s Insider,” WP, 27 August 2007; Obama on The Tavis Smiley Show, 18 October 2007; Obama, news conference with Google employees, Mountain View, CA, 14 November 2007; Audie Cornish, “Rare National Buzz Tipped Obama’s Decision to Run,” All Things Considered, NPR, 19 November 2007; Marc Ambinder, “Teacher and Apprentice,” Atlantic Monthly, December 2007; Leslie Bennetts, “First Lady in Waiting,” Vanity Fair, December 2007; Daren Briscoe, “An Interview with Barack Obama,” Newsweek, 8 January 2009 (18–19 May 2008); Matt Schofield, “Michelle Obama Says She Didn’t Want Husband to Run,” KC Star, 10 July 2008; Pete Rouse’s July 2008 interview with Jim Gilmore; Roger Simon, “Relentless,” Politico, 25 August 2008; Evan Thomas et al., “Barack Obama: How He Did It,” Newsweek, 17 November 2008; Wolffe, Renegade, pp. 49, 52–54; Heilemann and Halperin, Game Change, pp. 61–63; Plouffe, The Audacity to Win, p. 13; Axelrod, Believer, p. 190.

  41. Julie Bosman, “Obama’s New Book Is Surprise Best Seller,” NYT, 9 November 2006; Chris Lehmann, “Disciplined Politician Dispenses Tough Love,” NYO, 13 November 2006, p. 9; Charles Babington, “Time in Senate May Be Irrelevant If Obama Runs,” WP, 13 November 2006; Glenn Thrush, “Democratic Surge Boosts Obama,” QCT, 13 November 2006; Obama on Good Morning America, ABC, 13 November 2006; Obama, remarks at the King National Memorial groundbreaking ceremony, 13 November 2006; Anne E. Kornblut, “Purpose Driven Candidate?,” NYT, 14 November 2006; “Obama Announces New Committee Assignments,” 14 November 2006, Obama.Senate.gov; Christi Parsons, “‘Purpose’ Pastor Has Pulpit for Obama,” CT, 15 November 2006; Obama Podcast #35, “Democratic Senate Majority,” 15 November 2006, Obama.Senate.gov; Obama, CRec, 16 November 2006, pp. S11021–22; Leonard Pitts Jr., “Obama: Not Your Father’s Politician,” MH, 18 November 2006; “Excerpts from Obama’s Interview with AP,” AP, 18 November 2006; Obama on CNBC with Tim Russert, 18 November 2006; Nicholas Spangler, “Packed Theater Greets Obama,” MH, 19 November 2006; Thomas Beaumont, “Obama Talks with Top Advisers in Iowa,” DMR, 26 November 2006, p. A1; Deirdre Shesgreen, “On the Way to New Hampshire, Obama Tests Presidential Waters,” SLPD, 10 December 2006, p. A4; Walter Shapiro, “Obama’s Magic,” Salon, 12 December 2006; Ginger Thompson, “Seeking Unity, Obama Feels Pull of Racial Divide,” NYT, 12 February 2008; Pete Rouse’s July 2008 interview with Jim Gilmore; Evan Thomas et al., “Barack Obama: How He Did It,” Newsweek, 17 November 2008; Plouffe, The Audacity to Win, p. 14; Heilemann and Halperin, Game Change, p. 71.

  42. Jim Kuhnhenn, “Obama Rides Personal, National Political Wave and Ponders His Future,” AP, 19 November 2006; Obama, “A Way Forward in Iraq,” Chicago Council on Global Affairs, 20 November 2006; Obama on CNN Newsroom, 20 November 2006; Christi Parsons and David Mendell, “Obama: Time to Stop ‘Coddling’ Iraq,” CT, 21 November 2006; Scott Fornek, “‘No Good Options Left: Obama,” and Lynn Sweet, “Obama, Dems Now Setting Agenda,” CST, 21 November 2006, pp. 8, 9; Wally Sipers, “Obama Apologizes to Reporter After Potential Love Is Lost,” BND, 21 November 2006; Kathy Kiely, “Returning Rookies Reflect on Lessons Learned,” USAT, 27 November 2007; Chuck Goudie, “Question Whispered About Obama Now Asked in Public,” CDH, 27 November 2006, p. 13; Sweet, “Durbin’s Online Petition: Run, Obama, Run,” CST, 28 November 2006, p. 20; Alexander Cockburn, “Meet Senator Slither,” Counterpunch.org, 9 December 2006; Matthew Mosk, “The $75 Million Woman,” WP, 8 October 2007; Ryan Lizza, “Battle Plans: How Obama Won,” New Yorker, 17 November 2008; Balz and Johnson, “Obama Campaign Offers Lessons for Present Governing Challenges,” WP, 31 July 2009, and The Battle for America 2008, pp. 29–30; Axelrod, Believer, pp. 194–98.

  43. Mike Dorning, “Obama Reaches Out in Key 2008 States,” CT, 29 November 2006; Lynn Sweet, “Obama Bound for New Hampshire,” CST, 29 November 2006, p. 26; Michael Tomasky, “The Phenomenon,” NYRB, 30 November 2006; Sweet, “Obama Is Going to Go for It,” CST, 30 November 2006, p. 43; Seema Mehta, “Obama an Unlikely Guest at O.C. Church,” LAT, 30 November 2006; Dorning, “Obama’s Mega-Church Visit Spotlights Waning ‘God Gap,’” CT, 1 December 2006; Obama, World AIDS Day speech, Saddleback Church, 1 December 2006; Martin Wisckol, “Obama Warmly Welcomed by Evangelical Christians,” OCR, 1 December 2006; Michael Finnegan, “AIDS Fight Needs Churches, Obama Says,” LAT, 2 December 2006; Dorning, “Evangelicals’ Open Arms, Wary Hearts Greet Obama,” CT, 2 December 2006; Tim Grieve, “Left Turn at Saddleback Church,” Salon, 2 December 2006; Maureen Dowd, “What’s in a Name, Barry?,” NYT, 2 December 2006; Adam Nagourney, “Early ‘Maybe’ from Obama Jolts ’08 Field,” NYT, 4 December 2006; Patrick Healy, “Obama Meets Party Donors in New York,” NYT, 5 December 2006; “Obama Should Run,” CT, 6 December 2006; Obama, CRec, 6 December 2006, pp. S11291–92; Obama on The Early Show, CBS, 7 December 2006; Obama, CRec, 7 December 2006, p. S11501 (introducing S. 4102, the Election Jamming Prevention Act); Obama Podcast #36, “Iraq Study Group,” 7 December 2006, Obama.Senate.gov; Charles Babington and Shailagh Murray, “For Now, an Unofficial Rivalry,” WP, 8 December 2006; Mara Liasson, “Barack Obama, Still on Rise,” All Things Considered, NPR, 8 December 2006; Terry McDermott, “What Is It About Obama?,” LAT, 24 December 2006; Marc Ambinder, “Teacher and Apprentice,” Atlantic Monthly, December 2007; Tom Daschle’s June 2008 interview with Jim Gilmore; Evan Thomas et al., “Barack Obama: How He Did It,” Newsweek, 17 November 2008; Wolffe, Renegade, pp. 55–56; Heilemann and Halperin, Game Change, pp. 69–70.

  44. Holly Ramer, “Obama Says ‘Internal Clock’ Kept Him from N.H. Until Now,” AP, 8 December 2006; John DiStasio, “Obama Heads to NH,” Union Leader, 9 December 2006, p. A1; Adam Nagourney, “The Pattern May Change, If,” NYT, 10 December 2006; Deirdre Shesgreen, “On Way to New Hampshire, Obama Tests Presidential Waters,” SLPD, 10 December 2006, p. A4; Nagourney, “Obama, Visiting New Hampshire, Offers Flavor of a Campaign That Might Be,” NYT, 11 December 2006; Dan Balz, “Obama Takes First Steps in N.H.,” WP, 11 December 2006; Terry McDermott and Mark Z. Barabak, “Crowds Adore Obama,” LAT, 11 December 2006;
Jill Lawrence, “Obama Draws Crowds as He Tours New Hampshire,” USAT, 11 December 2006, p. 9A; Susan Milligan, “Obama’s Star Power Shows on N.H. Visit,” BG, 11 December 2006; Scott Brooks, “Obama Fever Grips NH,” Union Leader, 11 December 2006, p. A1; Christi Parsons, “N.H. Crowds Warm to Obama,” CT, 11 December 2006; Lynn Sweet, “Hamp-Sure? N.H. Seems to Love Obama,” CST, 11 December 2006, p. 6; Craig Gilbert, “Obama Dips His Toe Deeper into Presidential Waters,” MJS, 11 December 2006, p. 1; John Dickerson, “Barack Star,” Slate, 11 December 2006; Scott Lehigh, “Obama Bandwagon Is Filling Up Fast,” BG, 12 December 2006; Gail Russell Chaddock, “What’s Driving Obama-Mania?,” CSM, 12 December 2006; John Podhoretz, “Obama: Rorschach Candidate,” NYP, 12 December 2006; Steven Thomma, “If America Is Ready for a Black President, It Might Be Someone Like Obama,” KRDC, 12 December 2006; Walter Shapiro, “Obama’s Magic,” Salon, 12 December 2006; Maureen Dowd, “Will Hillzilla Crush Obambi?,” NYT, 13 December 2006.