The question that must be answered

In his excellent piece today on last night’s Barack Obama rally, Minnesota Public Radio reporter Tom Scheck includes this smackdown from Gov. Tim Pawlenty:

“Three or so years ago, Barack Obama was a state legislator,” he said. “And before that I think the sum total of his leadership experience related to being a community organizer. Those are not normally the credentials you would associate that would next lead you to be the leader of the free world.”

It is the question that must be asked again, and this time… answered. When it comes to picking the person who might well be the next president of the United States, what are the qualifications?