Obama: then and now, a stark contrast

Yesterday, I started reading Dreams from My Father, Barack Obama's first book published in 1995. Obviously, it's quite a time to read it. Polls close in 48 hours and I am on the way to Chicago.

Regular Greyhound riders know that at most American bus stations, TVs constantly blare either Fox News or CNN. Given the timing, that means Obama is on the screen a lot. And as he hits rally after rally in swing states and I hit layover after layover in mostly red states, I'm reminded of his oratorical flare and his wide appeal. And most of all, the confidence he exudes in the limelight.

Then I climb back on to the bus, read a few more chapters, and am struck by just how far the man has come -- not just in terms of power, but personally. In Dreams, he holds back little as he unveils his deepest struggles with his own maturity. And with race. It's a contrast unlike anything I've really experienced.

Oh, and on race. Expect more on that from this blog. Much more.