Obama must convince voters of toughness
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If Barack Obama is going to reach the White House, he'll have to convince voters that he's tough enough to handle both the political combat of a general election and the stresses of the presidency.
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WASHINGTON - If Democrat John Kerry has a chance of winning the White House, he must win over many in the small but central slice of the electorate known as "persuadable" voters who harbor serious doubts about his leadership abilities.    They tend to like Kerry better on handling the economy and half say a fresh start would be worth the risk...
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An Illinois controversy pitting two important constituencies against each other put Barack Obamaâs legislative skills to the test.
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Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama often says he will be a candidate that will bring both parties together and Saturday he named a few of the Republicans he would reach out to if elected.
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Analysis: Barack Obama must counter portrayal of him as all talk and no action, especially on the economy
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Barack Obama is welcoming his latest Democratic presidential primary triumph with a caution to exultant supporters that they've all got "months and miles" to go and it won't be easy.
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John McCain and Barack Obama are struggling to win over their party's most loyal voters, and no presidential candidate has a firm hold on what may be the campaign's chief issue, the economy. With the first presidential contests now history, voters appear to be telling the candidates: You still need some polishing.
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The lopsided nature of Barack Obamaâs victories gives him an opening to make the case that Democratic voters should coalesce around his candidacy.
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Barack Obama's campaign calls on Hillary Clinton to bow to 'inevitable' and accept defeat in Democratic race
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In his votes as a state senator, Barack Obama sometimes sidestepped sensitive issues.
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Democratic presidential contender  Barack Obama may joke about preparing for debates by riding  bumper cars, but the 2008 campaign has been fairly civil so far  -- and that&#39;s not necessarily good for U.S. voters.
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Ask those who served with him in the Illinois Senate whether Barack Obama is ready to be president, and they will tell you he is a dogged consensus-builder known for his empathy, intellect and unbounded ambition.
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Political analysts say they've never seen anything quite like the tough-guy competition between President Bush and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. They point to two reasons: millions of hunters and fishermen live in the battleground states each candidate needs to win, and voters everywhere are haunted by 9/11.
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Pigskin and politics. It's an audience Barack Obama couldn't ignore.
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Democrat Barack Obama has a habit of telling interest groups what they don't want to hear, even at the risk of alienating audiences critical to the prospects of a presidential candidate.
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Barack Obama is running well among high-earning, well-educated Democrats in the race for his party's 2008 presidential nomination. But unless he can broaden his appeal, he risks mimicking past flameouts by Gary Hart, Paul Tsongas and Bill Bradley.
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Barack Obamaâs success at fund-raising is tempting him to back away from accepting public financing in the general election.