Opinion: Barack Obama talks about maybe losing (update)

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(UPDATE: See below, with new video.)

Looking comfortable and not falling asleep after nearly 22 months of almost nonstop campaigning, Barack Obama had an on-camera conversation with ABC last night.

Like every disciplined candidate, he touched on all the talking points he wants to get out there in the last few days.

Obama was asked about winning and said he hoped Democrats would draw the right lessons from that, if they also control Congress: namely that they need to take office with humility and not run roughshod as some political victors have after past elections.

Good luck controlling any partisan herd in the current Washington atmosphere.

Then, the freshman senator was asked about losing. Calling himself the ‘longest of longshots’ at the beginning, way back on that chilly February 2007 day in Springfield, Ill., this is what Obama replied:

‘I’m a relatively young man. You know, they say there’s no second acts in politics. But, you know, I think there are enough exceptions out there that I think I could envision returning to the Senate, and just doing some terrific work with the next president and the next Congress.’

A longer version of the interview is viewable here.

(UPDATE: Apprised of Obama’s quote about returning to the Senate, the next day Republican Sen. John McCain said: ‘Sounds like a good idea to me. Let’s help make that happen.’ See brief new video below.)

-- Andrew Malcolm

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