[wagglebee]

"I would still be picking cotton if the country's moral principles had not been shaped by the Declaration of Independence," Keyes said. He said Obama "has broken and rejected those principles-- he has taken the slaveholder's position."

Damn! He's stirred up the hornet's nest with that! I love it!

[headsonpikes]

No 'home-state special' for Dr. Keyes - just a 'Chicago harbour tour' for the poor sap!

Go, Keyes, go!

[AmericanInTokyo]

Wow! BULLSEYE. Right into the hide of the beast

This is great. It is a debate between TWO BLACK MEN on the national stage that this country needs, and if it (the country) reall really has the courage and cultural/political maturity to face through the national media, the topic will be dealt with in much greater detail throughout the next two months. I welcome this line in the sand being drawn!!

[WOSG]

Dittos on that.

I saw him on H+C tonight and he ran rings around Alan Colmes (okay, not hard, but Keyes basically turned a question about carpetbagging into one about him standing for principles).

Keyes is setting himself up as Lincoln ready for the Lincoln Douglas debates, and he's coming to the land of Lincoln to defend the principles of Lincoln.

What's even better is that Keyes says things that are controversial enough to make the media think they should print that... normally that is death for a GOP campaign, it gets 'dogged' by 'controversy' ... Keyes just laps it up! He delivers round after round, and in the meantime, his prolife message sinks in.

I dont know if he's going to win, but on H+C he pretty much painted Obama as the second stringer, and succeeded.

He's willing to do 6 debates and said Obama was willing to do it but backed down when he heard his opponent was Keyes (Say goodbye to Obama's money advantage if that happens, and a great campaign issue for Keyes if it doesnt).

Man, he's that good.

[cyborg]

Well daaaaaaaam hehehehehe

[Thebaddog]

This could be interesting. It's the only shot Keyes has. I like it.

[Ciexyz]

That race is getting interesting.

[Non-Sequitur]

The Keyes campaign confirmed that the Calumet City address listed, in Chicago's southern suburbs, is Keyes' new Illinois home.

Christ, Cal City? He really doesn't know Illinois.

[Bernard]

Since the winner of this race will be only the fifth Black US Senator, it would be interesting if the media would identify who the previous four were/are, and what their party affiliation was/is.

I can think of two - Carol Mosely Braun, Democrat, and Edwin Brooke, a Republican from Massachusetts. Who were the others?

[The Great RJ]

This promises to be a most interesting race.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Damn... And Keyes jumps out of the gate with the Race Card right off...

[onyx]

Flag is up and they're off!

LOL!

Oh what fun this will be.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

There are some who say that Keyes hasn't got a prayer of beating Obama. So what? At the very least, the interest excited by his candidacy may stimulate black Americans to take a serious look at the issues from a perspective foreign to most of them. It could have far-reaching consequences beyond a simple victory or defeat.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Asked specifically about the phrase "slaveholder's position," Obama said Keyes "should look to members of his own party to see if that's appropriate if he's going to use that kind of language."

I do declare! Fightin' words if I ever heard them. Telling Alan Keyes where to find "appropriate" language! Man O' Man. This will be fun.

[mombonn]

"a sufficient number of debates" between himself and Keyes . . . but not the seven such clashes he had promised Ryan.

Sounds like Obama is running a bit scared.

[primeval patriot]

"As I travel around this state, I don't get asked about gay marriage, I don't get asked about abortion," Obama said. "I get asked, 'How can I find a job that allows me to support my family.'

The stupid party better get with the program.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Yep, I agree. However he needs to communicate with the people of Illinois, not just to them. Otherwise he will look really poor. Obama has the idea in this where he said he is going around the State talking to people. Keyes needs to get out there. Or else - why is he doing this?

[RightWhale]

Oboy.

This is going to be hot!

[OriginalChristian]

This all depends on how badly the Party wants the seat. They have given up on Illinois before. For Carol Mosley Braun to have ever been elected at all is a testament against the commitment of the party with regard to Illinois and also a testament to the inexplicable stupidity of Illinois voters. The fact that they keep re-electing Durbin is disturbing enough.

W04

[DouglasKC]

"That was the home-state special," Obama cracked. He declined to set a specific number, adding that staffers in the two campaigns would iron on the details later

What do you want to be that the specific number is "0"?

[Frank_2001]

Excellent!