Barack Obama was a little-known state senator from Illinois when he delivered a stirring speech before the Democratic National Convention in 2004. Today, he’s one of the biggest draws on the mid-term election map, headlining standing-room only-political events and helping his party bring in plenty of cash.

Having graced the covers of Men’s Vogue, Time and Newsweek and sat on Oprah’s couch for some engaging conversation, Obama is quickly becoming one of the most recognizable and respected figures in the Democratic Party.

Not since then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton blew folks away with a saxophone performance on “The Arsenio Hall Show” in 1992 has a Democratic figure captured so much national attention.

But is it enough to set him aside from the pack of Democrats who will be vying for the White House in 2008? More and more people think so, and for the first time this past weekend, Obama, appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” publicly said he is weighing a possible presidential run and will make a decision once the Nov. 7 election is over.

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Lorenzo Morris, Ph.D., head of Howard University’s political science department, said it was only a matter of time before the buzz around a potential “Obama for President” campaign grew from a soft whisper to a loud din.

“After all the publicity following the (Democratic National Convention) speech and his U.S. senatorial run, it was hard to imagine that he would not be a serious presidential candidate some day,” Morris told BlackAmericaWeb.com, adding that detractors knocking Obama’s national political resume have little ground to stand on.

True, Obama has only been in the U.S. Senate for two years, but he spent eight years in the Illinois state senate, helping to author an Earned Income Tax Credit plan and working on legislation for healthcare and AIDS prevention. By the 2008 election, Obama would have 12 years of state and national experience, just two less than John F. Kennedy had when he ran for and won the presidency in 1960.

On top of that, Kennedy was 43 when he beat then Vice President Richard Nixon. If he were to run in 2008, Obama would be 47.

“It’s really not so out of whack, especially if you consider that John Kennedy also had limited experience and was younger,” Morris said.

Desiree Pedescleaux, Ph.D., who teaches national government and urban politics at Spelman College, acknowledges that Obama has had little time on the national scene, but his perceived limited experience is outshined by his charisma and seemingly-wide appeal to so many people. His biracial background -- his African father was from Kenya, his white mother hailed from Kansas -- and the fact that he has been very outspoken against the war in Iraq from the start, endears him to many people.

“There’s nothing for folks not to like about him,” Pedescleaux told BlackAmericaWeb.com, adding that the fact that Obama has been involved in so many fundraisers in recent weeks is a clear sign that people are not afraid to put money behind him.

And if recent history is any indication, Obama doesn’t need to have years of experience in the national political spotlight to become the next Commander in Chief.

“Just look at the last two presidents. It does seem like Bill Clinton came from out of nowhere. Yes, he was a governor with very little national experience, but he just lit up the scene,” Pedescleaux said. “It's the same thing for George Bush. So the country may be ready for someone who may have some fresh ideas and doesn’t appear to be corrupted by the whole scene.”

While Pedescleaux believes an Obama run is possible, she’s cognizant of the fact that Obama’s race could play a factor.

“I do worry if we can get past the race issue,” she said. “He seems like the Golden Boy for now, but when it’s put to the American public, I do wonder if they can get past the fact that this is a black man.”

While more than two years away, the field of hopefuls for the Democratic nomination is not small. It includes former First Lady and current junior senator from New York Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Senator and 2004 runner-up John Kerry and his former running mate, John Edwards, the former U.S. Senator from North Carolina, who had to give up his seat to run with Kerry. Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Wisconsin Sen. Russell Feingold have all been mentioned as possible candidates.

Clinton said Monday that it was great that Obama, her fellow Democrat, is thinking about running.

Polls show Clinton is the front-runner among potential 2008 Democratic presidential contenders, and she admitted Friday during a debate that she has also been thinking about running.

"I think it's great that anybody thinks about whatever they want to do in the future," she said when asked about Obama during a campaign stop at a senior citizens' center just north of Albany.

Having so many potential candidates is a dilemma the Democrats should find much comfort in, said Congressional Black Caucus head and U.S. Congressman Mel Watt (D-N.C.)

Sitting in Edwards’ backyard, Watt said he will not yet speak up for one particular candidate, choosing rather to praise Edwards, Obama and others who political observers speculate may run.

“This is exactly the kind of ‘problem’ the Democratic Party needs. It’s good to have a range of very, very qualified candidates from whom we can choose,” Watt said, adding that he appreciates the diversity in the cadre of candidates, from Obama’s race factor to Clinton’s gender factor.

“I’ll certainly come to that fork in the road if and when all of these candidates are in the race,” Watt said. “In the meantime, I’m just going to smile and say John Edwards is a wonderful candidate, Barack Obama is a wonderful candidate, and Hillary Clinton would be a wonderful candidate as would Bill Richardson. Actually, I’m kind of disappointed that (former Virginia governor) John Warner got out of the mix.”

Lorenzo Morris said the true test for Obama will not be his race or experience, but rather how much support he can get from party bigwigs.

“The critical issue is how the bulk of the party would feel about supporting and endorsing him,” Morris said, adding that the talks surrounding an Obama presidential run in 2008 could also be heating up as a way to lay a foundation for a later run in 2012 if the Democrats are unsuccessful in the next election or in 2016 if a Democrat wins in 2008 and is reelected four years later.

“I think it’s very reasonable for a potential candidate to start putting their name out there eight years or more ahead of the race,” Morris said. “They’re showing an interest without actually pursuing, which might make them more viable.”

Watt said Obama’s race or experience shouldn’t deter people from exploring the potential he has. Self-described as someone who pushes the envelope, Watt said an Obama bid could do just that for the nation.

“I don’t think anyone knows the answer of whether we’re ready for a black president,” Watt told BlackAmericaWeb.com, adding that he was proud to serve as campaign manager for Harvey Gant, who attempted to unseat Sen. Jesse Helms in 1990.

“But we can’t help but get excited about forcing Americans to confront race, regardless of what than answer may ultimately be,” Watt said. “Every time you push the envelope, you push the time, that race becomes less and less of a factor.”

And while it's the CBC’s political action campaign and not the actual caucus that endorses candidates, Watt said he is sure that individual CBC members would be proud to  have one of their own make a run for the White House. Obama, currently the only black in the U.S. Senate, is also a member of the CBC.

“Each individual member would have to make their own decision,” Watt said, “but I could not imagine than any single member of the Congressional Black Caucus would not be excited about having a person of Barack’s caliber in the mix, pushing that envelope.”

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Associated Press contributed to this story.