It’s not just Obama. Reagan spent only 2 terms, 8 years as governor of California before becoming president. George W Bush spent only 5 years as governor of Texas before becoming president. JD Vance only spent 2 years as a senator before becoming VP.
For people who haven’t become president, Tammy Duckworth spent only 4 years as a congresswoman before being elected to the senate. John McCain was only a congressman for 4 years before becoming a senator.
Generally people who get national name recognition that quickly don’t hang out in congress that long. Once they hit the senate, sometimes their progress stalls. See Biden, Warren, Bernie, McCain, John Edwards, John Kerry, Bob Dole, etc. But, normally national name recognition = senate, at a minimum.
It’s not just Obama. Reagan spent only 2 terms, 8 years as governor of California before becoming president. George W Bush spent only 5 years as governor of Texas before becoming president. JD Vance only spent 2 years as a senator before becoming VP.
For people who haven’t become president, Tammy Duckworth spent only 4 years as a congresswoman before being elected to the senate. John McCain was only a congressman for 4 years before becoming a senator.
Generally people who get national name recognition that quickly don’t hang out in congress that long. Once they hit the senate, sometimes their progress stalls. See Biden, Warren, Bernie, McCain, John Edwards, John Kerry, Bob Dole, etc. But, normally national name recognition = senate, at a minimum.