Bayh on Iraq, Obama

USA Today has an article on Bayh regarding Senator Obama, Iraq, and 2008:

Bayh, who served eight years as governor of Indiana and is in his second Senate term, said he won't make an official announcement on whether he will run for president until after the end of the year.

He spoke about another potential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and other topics:

•Iraq. "I think we've got to put the pressure on (Iraqis), lead them to the abyss, and ask them to look over the edge and say, 'Is this what you want for your country: violence and death and civil war? If it's not, well, then you'd better start making some of the decisions.' "

•Obama's popularity. "I'm only human. Who wouldn't like that kind of attention and publicity? But I don't begrudge Barack that. Good for him.

"At the end of the day, the American people are going to conclude (that) this is a serious time for our country. And they'll want a serious person with serious answers and a proven track record to lead this nation forward, someone who understands the challenges in some detail that we face and has enough knowledge and experience to deal with them. ...

"If that's what the American people are looking for, then maybe I've got a chance."

•2008. "There's a bigger responsibility on us (now) to have a positive agenda for meeting the challenges that face the country. If we don't have that, we're in deep trouble."