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Excitement of Obama's bid is spreading

Posted January 08, 2008 10:00 pm

Dave Bakke and Amanda Reavy

Last February, William Kipp witnessed Barack Obama's announcement of his candidacy at the Old State Capitol in Springfield.

His political prowess was apparent.

"He has the energy to carry the youth of the nation, and that's where a lot of people need to be focusing on, and not so much the baby boomers, because, I hate to say it, they are getting close to on their way out the door," the 23-year-old Springfield resident said.

Eleven months later, Kipp was checking updates on the poll-defying New Hampshire primary results Tuesday night on his laptop at Lincoln Library. He's narrowed down the field of Democratic candidates to two choices: Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Voters in Iowa and New Hampshire have done the same.

"About five minutes ago, Clinton was leading, but I haven't made my decision who to actually vote for," he said about 8:30 p.m. An hour later, Clinton was declared the winner.

For Kipp, the candidates' stances on LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) issues and unemployment will be the deciding factors.

"I'm not big into politics, but I do watch it because they do decide our future," he said.

Johnathan Nimrod, a native of Liberia, and his wife, Rebecca, brought their two small children to Obama's Springfield announcement for the historic value.

On Tuesday, Nimrod, a vice president at Lincoln Christian College in Lincoln, admitted he had his doubts whether Obama could someday be a top contender for the Democratic nomination.

"Simply because of the racial issues in America," he said. "But as I listened to his speeches and his message, I began to see that he was a little different in what he was saying. We need to get back to being who we are in this country. If we can bring all parties together, we can better this country."

And, Nimrod said, that is Obama's strength. He is succeeding by cutting across racial, age and gender boundaries. So far, he has shown himself to be a uniter, not a divider, Nimrod said.

"Since that day," Nimrod said, "we have been following him, and being supportive of it and watching - and I think hoping at the same time."

If Obama ultimately wins the nomination, he will join Abraham Lincoln as successful presidential candidates who sprang to office from Springfield. For Lincoln, though, there was no grand announcement at the Capitol or anywhere else. Instead, he worked behind the scenes to recruit delegates ahead of the Republican convention of 1860.

But there are some legitimate similarities. Like Obama, Lincoln was an underdog in 1860. Like Obama, Lincoln was expected to lose to a senator from New York. Lincoln's Hillary Clinton was William Seward.

Even staunch Republicans can appreciate what Obama has accomplished thus far.

"Without question, it is certainly exciting to see a candidate that can motivate new people to the political process," said Eric Robinson, former press secretary to Gov. Jim Edgar who is CEO of Frontline Public Strategies in Springfield. "It doesn't happen very often, and it's exciting to see."

People in Springfield of both parties should feel a bit of ownership of the Obama candidacy, Robinson said.

"There are certainly Republicans who served with Barack Obama in the Illinois General Assembly, and it's exciting for them as well," he said. "You know someone who might be the next president, and three years ago you were sitting in committee with him."

Gordon Longhta is another Republican who lobbied legislators in Springfield for more than 40 years. He wouldn't rule out voting for Obama.

"I'm still wide open," he said. "I've got a lot of views, and they're very conservative, but I'm kind of a moderate, too. I'm concerned about his youth. I'm not sure he's ready yet."

Dave Bakke can be reached at (217) 788-1541. Amanda Reavy can be reached at (217) 788-1525.

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