It would be a shame to waste Hillary Clinton's talent, experience and intelligence by never having her be president. The ideal ticket, to my mind, is Hillary with Obama as running mate. This will presumably position Obama to continue the Democratic run in a brilliant way come 2016.

Jim Houghton, Encino, CA, USA

Message to Alice Miles re 'If this is a National Disaster I'm a Tomato'.

This is a first time response to an article in a newspaper but I was so refreshed to read your article about the 'disater' in England that I wanted to say how much I totally related to what you were saying. I watched the news last night and was so annoyed by the over dramatising of the situation. You summed it up completely. And if we think the people in Rwanda aren't as important as us getting wet well god help us.

Relieved to read a bit of common sense, thankyou.

Nicola Russell.

Nicola Russell, belfast, northern ireland

Interesting column. The only way I'd vote for Hillary Clinton is if Obama is her running mate. If she chooses someone other than him, I'm voting Green Party this time out. I am an Obama supporter from the moment that he announced. He is the man of the future.

Deloris, Chicago,

Bob Evans, I was questioning why I was even listening to any of the speeches at the 2004 Democratic Convention because they were all the same uninspiring political drivel. You could've put anyone at the keynote speech and I'd be rolling my eyes as I was with everyone else. Barack spoke as someone who was tired of this tendency to set us up against each other.. to create the "other" side and demonize it. Red state vs Blue state... We can never get away from the fact that we are all diverse. We will always be different. Too much pain is caused when we are bashing the "other". This needs to stop. It is about living in the way that we are without needing to force those same ways on others. The only alternative to this is genocide of all others, which is too terrible a legacy in the pursuit of purity. As our current administration has shown, experience does not translate into leadership. Barack and Michelle Obama have leadership in spades, and will inspire this nation.

Tyson Mitchiner, Washington D.C., USA

I personally like both Obama and Clinton; it would be extrememly hard for me to pick either one over the other. Perhaps, if the race is tight enough, whoever is the winner can pull the other onto their ticket as the VP, (sort of like how JFK did with LBJ)

Donna Cook, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

If she is the nominee I will not vote and I hope my party loses

Greg, Dallas, Tx

I read Andrew faithfully, on his blog in the Atlantic, where he now writes, - not in Time magazine, for which he not longer writes. I wonder why the Times has not updated his bio to reflect this change in Andrew's blogging home.

Kathy R, Burlington, Vermont, USA

I am a former Chicagoan and would love to support an African-American for the presidency.

Having said that, Hillary will get my vote. I believe she has the overall experiences necessary (former First Lady, great foreign policy experience, Senate, etc.).

And, to put it bluntly, it's time for a woman to be in control. America aches for a woman's healing touch and experience.

So does the world at large.

Go Hillary!

BTW, Obama will be an EXCELLENT VP.

David, Pacifica, CA

If Hillary is the nominee and she doesn't win the general, then the Republican transformation of the government to an aristocracy with family titles will be sealed. The Supreme Court will be made over into an instrument of xtian Sharia and we will have civil war in another decade. On the other hand, if Obama is the candidate there is no way he doesn't blow out the Republican in the general. The only question with him is when does the assassin strike. As for Obama's experience, I'm an Illinoisan for decades and Obama has ridden the wave here and that makes him as experienced as anybody in this country's body politic. What a fatuous argument to make. Obviously somebody who needs the Clintons to feel secure. If we lose, I'm blaming you.

Tim Osburn, Urbana, Illinois

I still continue to be shocked at the left's seemingly unwavering support of a fraud and shill like Clinton. I don't share Sullivan's contempt for her husband, although I have plenty of criticisms for him, but how anyone at this point can believe anything that comes out of her mouth, I have no idea.

For her vote on the Iraq war I can't forgive her and she's only now beginning to form a coherent position. Whichever way the wind is blowing, eh Hillary? Should I have to remind anyone here what Obama's position was, before the war and now? A principled one, a minority one. He turned out to be right.

Rick Powell, Prague, Czech Republic

I think Barack would make a great VP. I do not think he will be able to stay in the race against "The Machine" for the long haul. But, like JFK in 56, he is getting some valuable experience. Obama's day will come. however, he needs more time in the grinder. I like him a lot and I respect him. But, my vote is going to Hillary.

Mark J Biberg, Tuluksak, Alaska

I disagree with Andrew's premise for this article. He completes disregards the possibility that Hillary has such strong support not due to sympathy vote but because she is percieved to be experienced, tough, smart and compassionate. If this was just a sympathy vote, she would not have led in the polls this strongly and this consistently. The main issue for Americans this election cycle is who is strong enough and experienced enough to do the job right with Iraq. Regardless of sex or race, Hillary at this point appears to be that candidate, who has the experience and grasp of the issues to get started on teh job from day one.

SK, Sunnyvale,, CA

After 14 years of Bush/Clinton government it's not hard to see why people love Obama. After 14 long years of arrogance, lies, devisiveness, and ineptitude, along comes someone who is genuine, honest, and inclusive. It hardly seems surprising to me that there are a lot of independents and even Republicans who look at the field of both parties and are drawn to the one who beleivably promises to take the country in a new direction.

Obama doesn't see himself as a "black person" and that bothers a lot of people, many of them African-Americans. But like the Illinois primary voters in 2004, I think they'll come around when they learn more about him. Obama has tranceded race and a lot of us want to join him.

Darrek Jones, Chicago, Illinois

Here's that link to story behind Obama's speech

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/June-2007/The-Speech/index.php?cp=1&si=0#artanc

Michael, Miami, FL

There was an article recently about Barack getting chosen for the keynote, but, interestingly enough, in spite his in general terrible political judgment, John Kerry played a big role in the decision, as I recall.

I'll see if i can dig up a link.

Michael, Miami, FL

I do live in Suburban Chicago and I know that Obama is the real deal. Several years ago he asserted that Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela were his idols. Oprah Winfrey is a quality person. She does not like America's violent rap music artists who glorify racial strife, disrespect for women and cruelty to animals, especially, barbaric dogfights. Obama is the best African-American Presidential candidate that America has ever had. However, there will never be another Nelson Mandela. God bless Mandela !

Brien Comerford, Glenview, United States

Sometimes, I say God forbid Obama not because I would hate a fellow Black person to be president of the USA, but simply because of the fakeness of his emergence and his supporters. I hate the overzealousness of the self righteous white people promoting Obamamania across the world. My hope is that America would show the world that becoming a President is not the same as becoming a pop idol ( American idol) or simply becoming a celebrity. A Black president if it ever becomes the most important need for the Black race, should emerge because he is competent and has built a reputation for himself not marketed like a brand by some overzealous white men like Andrew Sullivan!

John Iteshi, London, UK

It sounds like a cliche, but Obama is a self-made man. I lived in Illinois during his rise; the reason he vaulted to national prominence so quickly is because he was the most naturally talented politician in Illinois since the late Sen. Paul Simon. Consciously or not, he's a protege of Simon -- an intellectual with strong ideals who relates to the common man.

This is how strong Obama is as a campaigner: During the Democratic primary for Senate in 2004, polls indicated a neck-and-neck race. But on election day, Obama received over 50 percent of the vote -- including a majority in Southern Illinois. The fact a politician from the mostly hated Chicago can woo voters in mostly white and rural Southern Illinois is flat-out amazing. A deathbed endorsement from Simon helped. But Obama also campaigned in the boonies and won over people everywhere he went.

That's what worries Hillary; he's a strong closer.

Ron W., Tulsa, Oklahoma

I believe it's the self righteous white liberals who have used the media to create the Obama phenomenon. I am a Black person, but I believe that having a Black president of the USA is not a priority issue for the Black race. Even if a Black president should be, it would benefit Americans in particular and the Black race in general only if such a person emerges naturally based on his or her competence and not based on sentiments! Obama to me represents everything that is wrong with contemporary Black elites!! His delusion about becoming the first Black president seems to me to be more about making history( to be the first Black president) than trying to save the Black race.

John Iteshi, Abakalik, London

Bob,
Given that Obama graduated magna cum laude (in the top 10%) of harvard law school, he may be smart enough to be his own kingmaker. I think that's an intellectual differentiation from the "thousands of locally elected officials in America". As for why Obama is running now -I think we lived through that. The media basically forced him into an '08 campaign. Prior to his announcements, the commentary "if he doesn't run now, while he's hot, he may lose his opportunity permanently" reached a fever pitch prior to his announcement.

Dave, New York,

My guess is that it was either Rahm Emanuel, former aide to Bill Clinton, Democratic congressman from Chicago, and manager of the 2006 Democratic campaign for the House, Dick Durban, Obama's senatorial colleague from Illinois and the Senate assistant majority leader, or Mayor Richard Daley, no introduction needed. Prior to the 2004 election Obama had shown tremendous cross-party appeal in Illinois. I think his Democratic colleagues noticed, and pushed him for the keynote slot.

Stan Jacobs, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The big question still remains unanswered: Who "made" Obama into a national figure? He was just one of thousands of locally elected officials in America and had only seven years experience in a relatively minor office when he was tapped to give the prestigeous keynote address to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Second only to the nomination itself, this is one of the highest party honors every Democratic politician in the country can only dream of.

Curiously, even before his speech he was being touted as a potential presidential candidate in 2008.

So, who IS the kingmaker behind Obama?

Bob Evans, Anaheim, California

great article!!

Danielle, virginia beach, va

Andrew has trouble believing that some people like Hillary
for her low-key bridge building style in the Senate, and not
out of some kind of victim sympathy. He also underestimates
Hillary's support among male Democrats, despite polls that
show it. And for those of us who don't care about electing a
first black, woman or Hispanic, who simply care about electing
someone who can do the job well, Obama's relative
inexperience is a worry, a worry that Oprah and Michelle
can't take away. [Extreme discipline - Friday beauty
appointments?]

Bill Eldridge, Prague, Czech Republic

Mr. Evans:

I'm not sure why this is "the big question." There may have been one Democratic bigwig who had the a-ha moment with Obama, but it may be that such an obvious choice was made by a committee. Keynote speakers at the conventions have a tendency to symbolize how the party wants to be seen by the voters. Obama fit the bill perfectly, and already was Illinois' Democratic nominee for the Senate. Big state, likely winner (I still can't believe Alan Keyes was the best the GOP could come up with), new face, African American, articulate, and inspiring: not exactly a hard call.

Your question seems to imply that there was something shady behind the choice. Would you care to elaborate?

Bill Sharp, San Francisco, California

Right on the money. How revealing that Barack has to first win the support of the Democratic constituency given his bonifides as a candidate. It speaks more to entrenched interests amongst the democratic party establishment and the old guard "angry" images of Sharpton and Jackson and their self interest in holding back the advancement of minorities in America. I am a 54 year old black American who is an Ivy League graduate of Cornell. I support Barack Obama not because he is a black man, but because he is superbly equipped to bring to bear his ability to realize the America that I grew up dreaming about and still believe in. Michelle is Baracks WMD..woman of monumental distinction. All I can say to her and Oprah is ..Bring it on ladies!

Norm Harris, San Mateo, Calfiornia/USA