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Politics
Obama tries to kick the habit
Early Edition: The senator from Illinois gears up for a presidential bid with a chat about one of his vices.
By BILL ADAIR
Published February 6, 2007
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[AP photo]
Obama plans to formally kick off his campaign on Saturday.
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WASHINGTON — Under pressure from one of his senior advisers — his wife — Sen. Barack Obama is trying to quit smoking.
The Illinois Democrat, who will formally launch his presidential campaign on Saturday, said Tuesday that he is chewing lots of Nicorette gum in a new effort to kick the habit.
“My wife wisely indicated that this is a potentially stressful situation, running for president,” he said. “She wanted to lay down a very clear marker that she wants me healthy.”
Obama has often smoked as a response to stress, during his previous campaigns and while writing books.
But he emphasized that he was discreet about it.
“I’ve never been a heavy smoker and don’t smoke in front of folks or in the house,” he said.
But like many smokers, he’s been unable to quit.
“It’s one of those habits — you can quit for a while and then you start back up,” he said
A friend of the Obama family told the Chicago Tribune that the senator has not smoked in the last few weeks. In a brief interview with reporters at the Capitol Tuesday, Obama sounded like he was pitching a product: “Actually,” he said, “Nicorette works pretty well.”
[Last modified February 6, 2007, 14:08:12]
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by Roger
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02/06/07 09:28 PM
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I know it extremely difficult to stop smoking! I stopped after my first heart attack! It is very stressful and I wish Obama all the best in this effort. It is a laudable endeavor to break any addiction.
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by Dave
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02/06/07 05:45 PM
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Actually, i don't mind if the first black president of the US is a smoker. It shows that he is human and subject to the same inclinations as regular Americans. I prefer this to our present leader who perpetrates his vices in secret prisons.
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by Mayday
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02/06/07 05:21 PM
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I heard that he doesn't inhale,
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by dave
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02/06/07 03:54 PM
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Try the patch Obama
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by tammy
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02/06/07 03:18 PM
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who cares
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by Sue
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02/06/07 03:07 PM
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Nice to know that Obama is human. I have seen so many Saints come out of breaking that habit. I broke it by having a stroke...
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by jack s
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02/06/07 03:03 PM
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Apparemtly what we have here is an "Obama Smokeman" sightning. Bill please, for the sake of the readers who need to know, cant you write something more pertinent concerning mr. Obama's political views and issues?
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by CJ
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02/06/07 02:50 PM
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But does he inhale?
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News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
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