Bush says Obama has long way to go to be president

WASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) President George W Bush said that Democratic Sen Barack Obama was an impressive politician but had a ''long way to go to be president,'' as he weighed in on the race for the White House in 2008.

''He hasn't gotten elected yet. He hasn't even gotten the party's nomination. He's an attractive guy. He's articulate,'' Bush said in an interview with Fox News yesterday.

''I've been impressed with him when I've seen him in person, but he's got a long way to go to be president,'' Bush added.

In the growing field of eight Democrats seeking the presidency, Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, is polling behind New York Sen Hillary Rodham Clinton though his candidacy has generated buzz as he seeks to become the country's first black president as well as some Hollywood money.

Reuters SBA VP0433