Forget the comparisons to Abe Lincoln of Illinois. I can't help but think of another intellectual Illinois politician with a self deprecating sense of humor, one who also went to Harvard Law (if not as successfully), one for whom a convention speech also helped propel him to the nomination; one whose oratory was considered eloquent and thoughtful, even electrifying, but who, not unlike Obama, was viewed suspiciously, considered an elitist, by some in the working class, a group he had trouble wooing. Oh, and both candidates had pictures circulate which showed them with holes in their shoes.
The massive difference? One lost the presidency twice, and handily, winning only 162 electoral votes combined. The other just more than doubled that total while being elected to the presidency.
Yes, it seems to me that we got to make up for past electoral mistakes; we elected Adlai Stevenson with a jump shot.
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