This article, and the background of Mr. Gerson proves a point that is missed about Senator Obama. He CAN bring different people and ideas together. If Obama can survive in the atmosphere of both good and hate (pastor Wright), but yet be able to understand both sides of it without he himself succumbing to hate, then who better to be president.

M.J., Iowa, U.S.A.

Finally, someone who dispassionately echoes my own view that Hillary Clinton is not even a good candidate. To begin with she doesn't even have leadership qualities and every president should at least have that. She's a follower not a leader. She followed the crowd who voted to invade Iraq. She followed the crow who voted for exceptions for torture, then followed them again when the politics of the moment changed. And now she has followed Bill's lead into a run for the US presidency. Moreoever, luck more than natural talent has brought her to where she is now. She was born into privilege and happened to turn the eye of a future US president. She has thus not had to defy the odds but as the heir apparent was fully expected to be the next American Commander-in-Chief.

Obama, on the other hand, is a leader in the classic mould, a talented trail-blazer who has had to overcome a myriad obstacles from a most unlikely background to get where he is today, proving all of his cynics wrong.

Simon, London, UK

Mr. Gerson, I salute you for your courage and honesty in your acknowledgement of Barack Obama' s special qualities and promise for the future of our nation. It is so (sadly) rare to find an individual who, even in the face of possible adversity, will speak the truth as he sees it , simply because it offers so much hope for healing and positive change. I pray your words regarding Mr. Obama will be heard, and have a positive effect on the outcome of this nomination process . . . You honor us all with your integrity. Thank you.

Honour, Grass Valley, California, USA

heres a prefect example of that so-called talent! Obama said he goofed on votes angered fellow Democrats in the Senate when he voted to strip millions of dollars from a child welfare office on Chicago's West Side. But Obama had a ready explanation: He goofed!
Also announced he had fumbled an election-reform vote the day before, on a measure that passed 51 to 6. The next day, he acknowledged voting "present" on a key telecommunications vote. He stood on March 11, 1999, to take back his vote against legislation to end good-behavior credits for certain felons in county jails. "I pressed the wrong button on that," he said. Obama was the lone dissenter on Feb. 24, 2000, against 57 yeas for a ban on human cloning. "I pressed the wrong button by accident," he said.

But two of Obama's bumbles came on more-sensitive topics, he backed legislation to permit riverboat casinos to operate even when the boats were dockside.

The measure, pushed by the gambling industry and fought by church groups whose support Obama was seeking, passed with two "yeas" to spare -- including Obama's. Moments after its passage he rose to say, explaining that he had mistakenly voted for it.

Obama would later develop a reputation as a critic of the gambling industry, and he voted against a similar measure two years later. But he was clearly confused about how to handle the issue at the time of his first vote, telling a church group that he was "undecided" about whether he backed an expansion of riverboat gambling. And, months earlier, he had voted in favor of a version of the bill.

Obama's vote sparked a confrontation after he joined Republicans to block Democrats trying to override a veto by GOP Gov. George Ryan of a $2-million allotment for the west Chicago child welfare office. being responsible," said Sen. Rickey Hendon, accusing Obama of voting to close the child welfare office.Obama replied "I understand Sen. Hendon's anger, I was not aware that I had voted no on that piece of legislation.

He voted against requiring medical care for aborted fetuses who survive. Abortion opponents see Obama's vote on medical care for aborted fetuses as a refusal to protect the helpless. Some have even accused him of supporting infanticide.
Obama considers single payer universal health care too socialist and has stated that he prefers voluntary solutions. **He voted against requiring medical care for aborted fetuses who survive. Abortion opponents see Obama's vote on medical care for aborted fetuses as a refusal to protect the helpless. Some have even accused him of supporting infanticide. Obama trivializes abortion by his attempt to find consensus social issues on which to base his campaign. He has a long record that neglects protecting pre-born children. 1452 black babies lose their lives to abortion every day in America. Unbelievably, Obama continues to refuse to address the disproportionate killing of African American babies in their mother's womb. Obama even supports the killing of born and partially born children.

jose, Phil, PA

Disaster would be a more appropriate word.

Subramaniam, Paris,

Will America make the historical jump? Yes it can, and that would its beautiest since some time, and yes, if we are the world, the world holds its breath

leibo , paris, france

Corrected for typos.

Finally, someone who dispassionately echoes my own view that Hillary Clinton is not even a good candidate. To begin with she doesn't even have leadership qualities and every president should at least have that. She's a follower not a leader. She followed the crowd who voted to invade Iraq. She followed the crowd who voted for exceptions for torture, then followed them again when the politics of the moment changed. And now she has followed Bill's lead into a run for the US presidency. Moreoever, luck more than natural talent has brought her to where she is now. She was born into privilege and happened to turn the eye of a future US president. She has thus not had to defy the odds but was fully expected to be the next US president.

Obama, on the other hand, is a leader in the classic mould, a talented trail-blazer who has had to overcome a myriad obstacles from a most unlikely background to get where he is today, proving all of his cynics wrong.

Simon, London, UK

Obama is a once in a life time indeed! USA must not lose this oportunity to take a huge stride towards facing one of its long standing issues racism, but Obama is more than that, he is intelligent, deep, professional, he could influence change in the way the world handles racial issues and I certainly would look to his presidency with excitement.

Clinton has dione her bit and I am sur she will continue to contribute in many different ways; but it would be a loss to lose Obama this time!

Margaret Kalilani, London, UK

Dear Mr. Gerson,

Thank you for this moment of frankness. Your critics may be swift to describe you as a turn coat. However, I am one of those who will admire you intstead, for seeing and appreciating beauty and excellence when the confusing history of man makes the exception of birthing one, like it seems to be the case of the Barack Obama Phenomenon.

God Bless you for being clairvoyant. Coming from the other side of the political ailes, honest intellectuals like you help us grow and affirm the belief that whatever hope we may have seen and pinned in this Black follow may just be for real. You know, even John the Baptist did not really believe it was the Jesus Christ he had be heralding, until the Voice came down from heaven to confrim: This is my son...

Thanks again.

Patrick Sianne in Dalian, China

Patrick Sianne, Dalian, China

George W. Bush and Hillary Clinton have one important quality in common. Both ridicule the right to ideals. When Bush sees Michael Moore, he tells him to "get a job". Clinton equates Obama's stirring rhetoric with naivete. But, the right to dream of a better life, particularly in times of crisis, a crucial quality - as shown by Lincoln, Kennedy, Martin Luther King.

Furthermore, in Obama's case, it represents the mature thought of a man who we, in the rest of the world, can trust will bring wisdom to the challenges of his new office, without favouring any special interest group.

Americans indeed, are proving their core greatness and courage, by voting Obama. His nomination and subsequent election will inspire the world.

David, Amstelveen, Netherlands

This busy monster America has been loosed upon the global community for what seems like eons with its colossal appetite as its guide and rudder.
Control of oil has become its prime trajectory.
Here, now, is Obama and a thrilling and momentous chance to reset, refocus, and reconnect with itself and the global community.
I truly hope that we don't miss this opportunity.

Ken Cohen, Portland, Oregon, USA

I would not have faitth by reading these commebts of those who say 'I will now vote for Obama' due to this piece. Yes Obama is a likeable and decent man, but the winner will be determined in November and that is too far off. American's are too easily swayed and fickle, don't believe anything you read, make your own judgement.

Sharon Wilkes, Wilmington, DE, USA

mr. obama is a special individual whom i admire a great deal my most heartfelt appreciation is for helping me believe in my dreams for installing values that i respect and appreciate and the message of hope that was born of an exsperience of great pain for america his veiws are representing our greiving point and i look forward to healing point this man i do know is not GOD but i do know it is HE that sent him into this world for a purpose he knows what he is destined to do and mrs. obama is a loving human being as well and she is doing exactly what she should be doing backing her man to the max people often say that barack and hillary will be the winning ticket but i think our winning ticket is staring us right in the face and we can't see it in my veiw that winning ticket is barack and michelle obama the only mearsuring stick they need is for people to come together and tell washington that today the greatest level of exsperience is to reach a level of love and exceptance for all.

Kesha, Salt Lake City, Utah

Yes, Sen. Obama is truly eloquent, so the praise from Mr. Gerson carries a professional feeling as one speechwriter about another. No grudge about it. But what about some substance? Giwen both gentlemen' accomplishments in phrasecoining (think Axis of Evil and Change we believe in) it's futile to hope for something of substance.

Felix, MOUNTAIN VIEW, USA/CA

Springer: "If you actually think O bama is electable, you need to re-read history."

You mean the story of the past? That's not what Obama is about. He's about the story of the future. Clinton and McCain are about dragging along the past to bog down the future. Obama is about creating the future by asking where we can go from here.

Janten, Ely, MN

I am a life-long Republican who has already voted for Obama (in the Ohio Primary) and will do so again in November. This man is absolutely remarkable. I can't blame Mr. Gerson one bit for the praise that he showers upon Barack Obama.

James Jones, Columbus, USA/ Ohiof

You know what I think it also really beautiful? It turns out that Obama is descended from James Madison - one of the founding fathers and major author of the constitution. It was James Madison who wrote in the checks and balances in the constitution to limit the influence of special interests - as he foresaw these as being damaging to the constitution. Now, hundreds of years later, a bi-racial boy is born, grows up to become a scholar of constitutional law and has run a campaign that shunned financing from special interests and who seeks to limited the influence of the special interests that have - as Madison initially warned - threatened the constitution upon which the USA was founded. Could this descendant of Madison be the one to take America back to its roots? Is Madison's genetic blueprint coming through the many hundreds of years to protect his vision for his nation?

JKay, Wellington, New Zealand

Good article

Susie, Mercer Island, WA

Obama is truly outstanding. He has the best chance to restore America's moral and political authority on the world stage. His pragmatic, common sense, non ideological approach to national problems would serve him well on global issues.

America needs to get back on the track of persuasion and collaboration with its perceived enemies, and they are all over the map. The sense of inevitable entitlement of Clinton and the tough minded war hero mindset of McCain will not help to undo the bitter division and resentment that the Bush administration has presided over.

Obama's presidential bid heralds a new and hopefully more positive public discourse on race relations in America. His recent speech on race presented a bold and courageous illumination of a "hot" topic.

His presence on America's political stage is most unlikely but his mark on America and the world is truly indelible. Good luck Barack. And Yes You Can!

Dr. Alex Awiti, New York, NY USA

Obama is just another smooth talking, touchy-feely liberal similar to but probably less than Dukakis or McGovern...and look what happened to them. The only dem elected in recent history (bill) ran to the center. If you actually think O bama is electable, you need to re-read history.

ncarrizo, springer , nm

Even Hillary's campaign staff knows the brilliance of Obama and his potential to be one of the greatest US president. They just can't admit it publicly.

maxd, Suva, Fiji

The man is calling a spade, a spade, rather than describing it as a digging material. That is the truth. Take it or leave it , that Obama guy is brilliant

Adjaloo, alexandria, usa

Very interesting!

Robert Dix, Princeton, New Jersey, USA