"Obama to give major speech in Iowa," The Associated Press reports this morning. "Sen. Barack Obama [of Illinois], whose name has come up in speculation about the 2008 presidential race, will be the headline speaker at the Iowa Democratic Party's highest profile event this year in a state that traditionally holds the first delegate-selection caucuses. Obama will be the featured speaker at Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin's annual steak fry in September, an event which annually draws thousands of activists. 'I think his standing has risen rapidly,' Harkin said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press."

Now, flash back to June 22 and The Mason City (Iowa) Globe Gazette, as digested by The Frontrunner: " 'Some Iowa Democrats who are already sizing up 2008 presidential prospects say they're eager to catch a glimpse of one of their party's rapidly rising stars -- U.S. Sen. Barack Obama. But they shouldn't hold their breath. Aides insist the Democrat from Illinois hasn't planned any trips to Iowa. Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama 'currently has no plans to visit Iowa, and tried to downplay speculation and media accounts that hint he's considering a 2008 run for president.' Gibbs said, 'There's no doubt a lot of people ask him about his future, and every day people ask. But his answer hasn't changed, and he very much enjoys his job as a senator from Illinois.' "

Hey, as dudes have been trying to convince their girlfriends for eons, it doesn't hurt to look!