The Obama family about to board their flight to Hawaii from Chicago. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Barack Obama is finally going to take a week off. After 19 months on the campaign trail, Obama and his family are off to Hawaii for a week to visit his grandmother and relax. Obama's vacation coincides with the first week of the Olympics – which many expect be a lull in the presidential race.
Nonetheless, Obama's vacation comes at a time when some Democrats are nervous. Many thought he'd have a much larger lead in the polls over John McCain by this point. And there's always a risk that the wrong photograph could become political ammunition against him. Remember those pictures of John Kerry windsurfing back in 2004?
Obama admits that as a candidate you always worry about taking time off during a campaign. But he says it's time for a break. He says he hasn't seen his grandmother in almost two years, and wants to spend time with his daughters and wife.
The Financial Times reports that Democrats say Obama needs to accomplish the following when he gets back to work: put on a good event to name his V.P. choice and deliver an exceptional speech at the convention. By the way, his acceptance speech at Invesco Field in Denver sold out in one day – the stadium holds 75,000.
Some think Obama should be punching back harder against McCain's attacks. New York Senator Chuck Schumer suggests Obama should respond to McCain's personal attacks in kind. But it's worth remembering that Obama ran the same kind of positive campaign in the face of attacks from Hillary Clinton that he's running against McCain – and he came out just fine.
Here’s my question to you: Is this the right time for Barack Obama to take a vacation?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Ray from Chesapeake City, Maryland writes:
Of course, yes. He did more in his one-week trip overseas than Bush did for 8 years or McCain in all his years in the Senate. So after the long primary season and with the convention and the selection of a VP ahead, I think he needs it.
Kyle from Nashville, Tennessee writes:
I would rather Obama take a vacation now than after he's in the Oval Office. We've had enough of a president who enjoys downtime at the ranch. Get a nice rest in now, and be prepared to lead our country out of the messes we have made.
Gloria writes:
It has been a long campaign and Obama deserves some time with his family. Now if we could get McCain to take one, maybe we'd all get some much needed relief!
Bill writes:
No, it’s not a good time at all for a vacation. With John McCain creeping up in the polls every day, now is the time when Obama needs to be campaigning and making his points clear. If he wants to win the election, wait a few more months for Hawaii.
Kristin from Seattle writes:
As a grandmother myself, I think Obama is doing just the right thing to take time off, visit with his grandma, have some family time and rest up for what will be the challenges ahead. He makes 3-5 campaign stops a day while McCain does one and doesn't campaign on weekends.
Frank writes:
Come on, Jack. Everybody needs a vacation and the timing is never perfect, you just have to go. I haven't taken a vacation in over three years, and it shows: my wife and my kids hate me.
Michele from Dallas writes:
Why not? Isn't the rest of the Senate on vacation, except Senator McCain?