As a speaker, Barack Obama does not strive for the soulful effect of an African-American evangelical. Nor does he conjure instant empathy with an audience, the way Bill Clinton does. He delivers his message with the understated charisma of a Midwestern news anchor. But when he writes or when he speaks, Obama does something no one else in politics does: He plumbs his own anxiety and doubt, and ties his life story to political problems that few elected officials dare to discuss so personally, including the disparities of race and class, drug abuse, poverty, and, of course, faith.

Weigh in Obama's career and his political prospects in our poll, and join a discussion on the poll results and on politics in general in the Men's Vogue Forum.

Read Jacob Weisberg's article on Barack Obama in the September/October 2006 issue of Men's Vogue.