Obama in Iowa: Preview of 2008?

[Herman Munster]

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/09/obama_2008.html

After watching Illinois Sen. Barack Obama (D) closely over the last few months, we've grown more and more convinced that he will come under significant pressure to at least consider a run for president in 2008.

While Obama -- and his staff -- continue to deny any interest in a national bid in two years time, his actions seem to belie his comments on the subject.

Sen. Barack Obama accepts a Grammy award for the spoken word version of his autobiography. (Reuters) The latest evidence? Obama will be the special guest of Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin (D) at his annual steak fry held this Sunday at the Warren County Fairgrounds in Indianola. Harkin has hosted the event for the past 29 years, and it has become a regular stop for presidential aspirants. Harkin's guest in 2005 was former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who is widely expected to run for president again in 2008. Obama won't have the event to himself, however, as Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner are also set to appear. (Warner is not on the official program but will likely make a few informal remarks.) Iowa Secretary of State Chet Culver, who is running for governor this fall, will also attend. Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the party's 2004 nominee, will be in Iowa this weekend but is not planning a stop at the steak fry.

"It's no secret that Barack Obama has a bright future," said Harkin about his steak fry headliner. "But make no mistake -- this guy is a work horse, not a show horse. He's fighting hard in the U.S. Senate for causes that benefit everyone -- not just those at the top."