woo hoo!!!

of course this is bitter sweet and i'd rather a replacement DID NOT have to be found, but dang, could you possibly ask for ANYONE BETTER to substitute?
nope!

Wesleyan Scrambles To Ready Campus For Obama

By CHARLES PROCTOR |Courant Staff Writer
MIDDLETOWN - When Sen. Ted Kennedy's medical condition cast doubt this week on his plans to give the commencement address at Wesleyan University Sunday, some doubted the campus could field an equally prominent speaker on such short notice.

Then came Barack Obama.

The Illinois senator, presumptive Democratic nominee for president and possibly the hottest speaking ticket in the country right now, will give the commencement address Sunday in Kennedy's place, officials for the senators and the university said Thursday.

In a statement released by his campaign, Obama said Kennedy, who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor this week, had talked to him earlier in the week about taking his place at Wesleyan.......