Saturday, February 2, 2008

Obama invokes the memory of Wellstone in Minneapolis

I've been waiting for this. Today at a rally with 20,000 people in Minneapolis, presidential candidate Barack Obama reminded us of a great leader who came before- the late Senator Paul Wellstone.



Every time Obama refers to the 2002 vote on war with Iraq, I think of Wellstone. In the face of a difficult campaign and facing the possible end of his senatorial career, Wellstone went to the floor of the U.S. Senate and spoke strongly- you could even say, "with conviction"- against the war in Iraq. Thinking that this could be his last stand in the Senate, Wellstone thanked his staff for always standing by him.

After that speech, Wellstone's poll numbers went up. Unfortunately, we all know what happened just a few weeks later, when America lost one of its great progressive leaders in a tragic plane crash.

But when one falls, others pick up the torch and keep marching. Enter Barack Obama...

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