Engaging, charismatic, youthful, many feel Barack Obama could be the best of the current crop of candidates fighting for the Democratic nomination. An accomplished politician despite his relative youth, an opponent of lockstep ideology, he has much to offer any left-leaning American. But, can he be nominated and if nominated can he be elected?

In assessing Obama's chances one member of the commenterati said, "...every pimple, every blemish, every decision he has made since birth will be scrutinized, criticized and magnified out of proportion." Welcome to the spotlight, Mr. Obama. Speaking to the persistent race and class issues among voters another said, "I think he would make an excellent candidate. Chances of getting elected? Zero to none. The Old South will rise up and stop any chance a non-white man has of being elected."

Even with the "Oprah endorsement" and her commitment to campaign on his behalf, he is fighting an uphill battle against the legions of Clinton activists who are determined to return Bill to the White House even if it means having Hillary occupy the Oval Office. Added to that is the fact that in spite of his obvious intelligence and political credentials many feel that he lacks sufficient experience to provide the leadership necessary to pull the country out of an impending recession and bring about a suitable end to the Iraq war.

With recent polls showing Obama and Clinton in a statistical tie in Iowa, Obama's chances for the nominations basically come down to:

1. Will Democrats be able to overlook his relative inexperience?
3. Will those who are dog tired of traditional politicians be attracted by his freshness?
3. Will Hillary's vulnerability to potential GOP attacks turn voters toward his relatively safe image?
6. Will Hillary's perceived waffling on the Iraq war stand up to his unsullied and unequivocal record?

Ultimately his chances are far better than any of the others who are eating Hillary's dust, but in the end it seems that all the indicators are pointing to Sen. Clinton's nomination, which, in the minds of many Democrats would be an automatic election for the GOP's candidate, especially if that candidate turns out to be Rudy Giulliani.

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