Black Enterprise: 'Why Barack Obama Should Be President'

The January issue of Black Enterprise magazine will feature a cover story entitled "Why Barack Obama Should be President."

Here's a copy of the Black Enterprise press release:

		In January's BLACK ENTERPRISE: Why Barack Obama Should Be President. Plus: The Next Generation of Young Entrepreneurs, Bargain Stocks for 2008 and Developing Your Estate Plan. (PRNewsFoto/BLACK ENTERPRISE) NEW YORK, NY UNITED STATES

Publication's January Issue Identifies The Key Factors Behind The Obama Surge And Why He Will Win This November

NEW YORK, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says "the same old Washington textbook campaigns just won't do, this election," and "telling the American people what we think they want to hear -- instead of telling the American people what they need to hear -- will no longer be acceptable."

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071213/NYTH071 )

So goes the surging message of Barack Obama, the man who has presented America with the real possibility of an elected black president. With the primary season quickly approaching, BLACK ENTERPRISE (BE) hit the campaign trail with the electrifying contender, gaining exclusive insight into his platform and strategy. In the January issue cover feature, "Why Barack Obama Should Be President," BE builds a compelling case for Obama becoming president of the United States by identifying six key reasons he has risen in the polls -- and how he will win the Oval Office this November.

Barack Obama first appeared on the cover of BE in October 2004 next to the headline The Next Big Thing in Politics. Today he makes good on that prophecy as audiences in Iowa, New Hampshire, and other key battleground states greet him with thunderous applause. "I don't want to spend the next four years re- fighting the same fights we had in the 1990s. I don't want to pit red America against blue America. I want to be president of the United States of America," says Obama.

With his galvanizing message of hope and change, Obama's campaign has created an excitement unmatched by any other, and it brings together diverse sectors of the electorate -- black, white, Latino, young, old, blue-collar, and white-collar.

In researching January's cover feature, BE spent months talking to political analysts, and party activists and supporters to identify why Obama has the right stuff to win:

-- A Message for All People. Obama has hit on universal themes that resonate with voters across racial, gender, and demographic lines, an approach necessary for a black candidate looking to be elected. He's also been successful in garnering support from divergent constituencies, including Hollywood, the Bible Belt, and corporate America. In addition to the war, domestic issues, such as education and employment, resonate without the usual Beltway rhetoric.

-- A Winning Team. Obama has assembled a multi-ethnic lineup of political strategists and an all-star team of more than 200 policy advisers, including heavy-hitters from the Clinton administration. His top-notch team is making sure his campaign speeches, debate appearances, and policy statements set him apart from the other Democratic contenders, especially presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.

-- The Funds to Compete. Running for president takes loads of money and Obama has demonstrated a keen ability to raise cash. Through the third quarter of 2007 he raised $80.3 million. In addition, his campaign has witnessed a surge in online contributions -- more than $20 million from small donors, those contributing $200 or less. "We have more small donors than all of the Democratic candidates combined," says Obama. "These are people who will definitely show up to vote."

-- The Black Vote. Obama's major challenge for the black vote lies with chief opponent, Hillary Clinton. She's garnered enormous loyalty and name recognition within the black community largely due to the popularity of her husband. But history may be on Obama's side. African Americans tend to embrace black candidates -- particularly democratic ones -- who speak to the general electorate and closely represent their agenda.

-- Support from White America. Much has changed in America with the emergence of several black mayors, governors, secretaries of state, and CEOs -- suggesting that voters have become more comfortable with African Americans as leaders. Traveling with his campaign in Iowa, BE reporters witnessed first-hand how Obama's universal themes connect with crowds. At events, Obama packs them in like a rock star: he drew 10,000 in Iowa City, 7,000 in Ames, and 4,500 in Davenport.

-- America is Ready for a Change. Obama offers the change in leadership that many are seeking: youth and vitality, an unyielding hope for the future, and a rejection of the Washington-inside mind-set. His independence also sets him apart as he is the only candidate who has taken less than 1% of his donations from political action committees and none from lobbyists. He is also pushing for a transparent presidency, one in which voters are more involved with and informed about government activities via the Internet and town hall meetings. "It will no longer be business as usual in the White House," says Obama. "There will be a new openness in Washington."

The January 2008 issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE hits newsstands on December 25, 2007.