Obama has center in his sights

[Freddie Stubbs]

By David Mendell
Tribune staff reporter
Published April 27, 2004

Barack Obama, possessing an intense devotion to social justice, arrived in the Illinois Senate in 1997 and quickly became a darling of the Democratic Party's liberal wing--a label he wore like a badge of honor into the U.S. Senate primary in March.

But after winning his party's nomination, Obama is now engaged in a timeless dance of politics: The liberal stalwart is gingerly stepping toward the political center to court swing and independent voters in the general election.

An ardent supporter of stricter gun control measures, the Hyde Park state senator voted last month to allow retired police officers to carry concealed weapons. On a radio show, he compared his political style to moderate former Republican governors Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar. And Obama's allies have been staunchly defending him against the dreaded "L" word--liberal--with Democratic U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Chicago proclaiming that Obama is nothing at all like that.

It seems the liberal moniker has become something of a millstone for Obama in his November battle with Republican Jack Ryan, whose supporters have been feverishly trying to paint the Democrat as a left-wing extremist. One, state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin), went so far as to deem Obama to be "to the left of Mao Tse-tung" in a comment widely disseminated by the Ryan campaign.

more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0404270145apr27,1,4935623.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[apnu]

1. GO Obama GO! n/t