Here's how Senator Tom Harkin introduced Democratic colleague Barack Obama in Iowa yesterday:

"I really tried to get Bono this weekend. I couldn't get him so I settled for the second-biggest rock star in America today."

No kidding. On one hand, the Democrats' infatuation with Obama is understandable: he's a remarkably gifted orator and as charismatic a politician as you'll find in the country. On the other hand, it seems a bit weird, if not desperate, that Democrats are rushing to anoint a man who has only two years of experience at the federal level and whose positions many Democrats don't really know much about.

Nevertheless, the excitement over Obama dwarfs that of any other Democrat in America, including all those considering possible runs in 2008 - with the possible exception of Al Gore. Just how big of a shadow does Obama cast? The Des Moines Register painted the scene yesterday:

As Obama arrived with Harkin, a dozen television cameras from Chicago and national news outlets met him. Boom microphones gave away his presence as he made his way slowly across the Warren County Fairgrounds. [snip]

The presence of Obama eclipsed the maneuvering of two prospective Democratic presidential hopefuls, former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner and Iowa's Gov. Tom Vilsack.

Warner, who plans to campaign in Des Moines and southeast Iowa today, walked the fairgrounds with a handful of staff members, and approached a group of Iowa City Democrats who did not recognize him.

Likewise, Vilsack stood about 50 feet from the media scrum surrounding Obama, answering questions about Iraq from Grinnell College students.

Finally, Tim Jones of the Chicago Tribune delivers a witty, cautionary graf in his coverage of the event:

Despite the overall positive reception for Obama, it should be noted that Iowa is not into coronations. Candidates are expected to pay homage to ethanol, know the difference between barrows and gilts, and appreciate the virtues of loose-meat hamburger. But above all, if they are to win the hearts of Iowans they are expected to spend a lot of time here, in pastures and living rooms.

Ethanol is an easy play these days, but the loose-meat hamburger thing may be a bit tougher.

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