There was no shortage of people who thought Barack Obama was presidential material after he won a U.S. Senate seat in 2004.

Before that election, there wasn't much presidential talk surrounding Obama because he was more concerned with making the jump from the Illinois Senate to the U.S. Senate.

However, at least one person seemed to have a pretty good eye for political talent during his run against Republican Alan Keyes. Here's a paragraph from a Herald & Review report of Obama's visit to Clinton in August 2004:

"He's going to be our president down the line," said Linda Robinson of Clinton, who waited two hours to see the U.S. Senate candidate at Clinton High School. "He has the charisma, the foundation. I think he can pull the people together."

It is doubtful Robinson or many other people thought Obama would fulfill his presidential ambitions just four years later. And while Illinois is no Ohio or Virginia when it comes to producing presidents, the state is no slouch. Obama will be the fourth president Illinoisans can rightfully claim as their own.

First was Abraham Lincoln who came to the state via Kentucky. With the country gearing up for the 200th anniversary of his birthday in 2009, we're going to get more than the usual dose of Lincoln in February.

Next was Ulysses S. Grant, who was born in Ohio and spent time before the Civil War working as a clerk in a store in Galena.

The third is Ronald Reagan, a native of Tampico and a graduate of Eureka College. With his radio and acting career, his ties to Iowa and California are as prominent as his Illinois roots.

Lincoln had the strongest ties to Illinois and I suspect that eventually, Obama will be more closely associated with Illinois than either Reagan or Grant.

In conjunction with Obama's inauguration, the Herald & Review is planning to publish stories about Obama and the people he has touched. That won't be possible, however, without help from our readers. Here are some of the things we would like to get from you:

- Just as David Letterman has his "Brush with Greatness" segment, we are looking for your "Brush with Obama" stories. The president-elect has been in Central Illinois as a legislator, a candidate for U.S. Senate, a U.S. Senator and as a presidential candidate. In those visits, he has talked to a lot of people. If you have an Obama story, we'd like to hear it.

- Do you have some Obama stuff? Just recently, the swiveling, high-backed leather chair once used by Obama when he served in the Illinois Senate was among the items the state inventoried for possible inclusion in a museum display. Maybe you have an autographed photo or another piece of memorabilia to share. If so, we'd like to hear the story behind it.

- Have you taken a photo of Obama or maybe had your picture taken with him? If you have an inclination to share, we plan to publish them online.

- Do you plan to attend the Jan. 20 inauguration? If so, we'd like to know why you would travel to Washington, D.C., to witness something you could watch in your living room.

- If you're not going to Washington, do you have any plans to watch the inauguration with a group of people? If you're having an Inauguration Day party, let us know about it.

We will publish coupons in the newspaper and online letting you know how to submit contributions. If you have something to share or a question, feel free to contact me at the e-mail address or phone number below.

ddawson@herald-review.com|421-7980