orichalcum

Not, I think, a comparison that gee_tar will mind.

Over a year ago, darkforge commented on his LJ that people were crazy if they thought that Americans would ever elect a guy named Barack Hussein Obama. I understood his skepticism, but I clung to a stubborn hope that other people would come to appreciate Obama's message of hope and change and his willingness to choose hard truths and tell them like they are. But in my heart of hearts, I still didn't think he had much of a chance of winning.

Last July, before he went on Beauty and the Geek, I asked gee_tar what his strategy was. "Keep a low profile in the beginning, try and make lots of allies and be seen as harmless, then win a lot of the contests right near the end." he replied.

"Well, sure," I thought, "that's a good theory, but it'll be a lot harder to actually put into practice." But then I watched gee_tar during the fall methodically carry out his precise plan, adapt to an initially unwanted partner, and walk away with $125K and the crown of Geekhood.

Last December, cerebralpaladin and I went to hear Barack Obama speak in a small setting of about 100 people. Barack spoke to us about why he was running and said, "One of the things Michelle and I talked about was how it was possible for me to win. And what we worked out was that I absolutely had to win Iowa, and after that it would be a long, hard, slow process of getting delegates from the small states and the overlooked states as well as the big ones."

"Well," I thought, "that sounds all very good, but I don't really know if he can carry it off. Isn't it all about Super Tuesday?"

I should have had more faith in gee_tar, and I'm glad I had the faith despite my doubts to back Barack Obama over 15 months ago. Because what I didn't know about Barack (though I did about gee_tar) was how darn good a game-player he was. Because, yes, he's got a wonderful message and terrific staff and amazing charisma. But he also played the Primary Game extraordinarily well. He saw the weaknesses of the Clinton strategy, and he outstrategized them, and he wasn't afraid to give up losses where necessary - as you do in any game - in return for never losing sight of the end goal: a majority of delegates. Regardless of whether or not you support him, I think it's hard not to be impressed by how well a black man with a funny name has run his campaign.

The first game is over. The next one began tonight. I'm going to have faith that Barack Obama is as smart as I think he is, and I'm going to work for and with him every day from now to November to bring change to America. Because I believe, and I just wish my mom was alive to see this tonight.