He's already conquered the Democratic party using grassroots internet campaigning and once-in-a-generation presence before a crowd.
He's defeated the supposed next president from New York and, oh, in the process, become the first African-American to claim a major party's presumptive presidential nomination.
Next, Barack Obama appears prepared to consider a Republican running mate.
How's Obama/Hagel sound? Democrats may shudder, but Independents may see it as just enough to move them away from considering John McCain, he of the just relaunched campaign under new management.
And you thought the summer would be about nothing more than policy statements.
