Barack Obama is an exciting candidate. Americans love the idea of a black president who believes in the power of the possibility of the audacity of hope.

But remember the last time there was a popular black reformer or an incredibly well-liked senator running for President? That didn’t end so well for Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy.

The New York Times asks the tough questions, namely is Barack Obama afraid of assassination?

I made a decision to get into this race. I think anybody who decides to run for president recognizes that there are some risks involved, just like there are risks in anything.

And in this way, running for president is a lot like bungee jumping.