Politics

WASHINGTON (CBS) ― President Obama was one of a record 205 nominees for what is possibly the most prestigious award in the world, but after winning the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, Mr. Obama admitted he's not sure he did enough to earn the incredible achievement.

He even admitted he didn't know he was up for consideration, and Nobel watchers didn't think he was on the short list to win. But he was, and he did, and when his name was announced, the waiting crowd gasped.

Not even the President himself expected it.

"I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel committee. Let me be clear, I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations," he said. "To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honored by this prize."

And in that opinion, he's not alone. Across the tri-state, reaction was varied.

"I wasn't sure exactly what he won it for. What did he do to win it? I was quite surprised to hear it," said Armonk resident Rich Lunder.

"I think it's awesome," said Brian Till, of Wayne, N.J. "Great guy to win."

Even CBS News' Bob Schieffer was shocked by the news.

"Normally the prize is given for rewards, for results. In this case, it seems to me it was given for aspirations," he said. "It's just a stunning surprise."

A surprise, because nominations for the coveted prize were due just two weeks into Obama's presidency. He had yet, and has yet to this point, to accomplish anything of the scope most Nobel recipients do.

"The Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people," said Thorbjoern Jaglan of the Nobel Committee.

Said Obama: "I know that throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor a specific achievement. It's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes."

Much of the world sees Mr. Obama as more committed to peace and international dialogue than his predecessor. International studies professor Ghassan Shabaneh of Marymount College said this was the Nobel Committee's attempt to encourage the President to accomplish great things.

"I believe the committee was saying to him, 'You said a lot to us. You gave many, many great speeches. We are calling you to action. We want you to deliver on those speeches,'" said Shabaneh.

But what does this mean domestically? Will a president this popular in Europe see a political backlash in America? With his nose bloodied by the rancorous health care debate, and the humiliating elimination of Chicago from the Olympic stage, could this honor become a hammer in the hands of his opponents?

"In a way, this could widen the partisan divide in this country than bring it together," said Schieffer.

The Nobel Peace Prize includes a few perks, including forever being referred to as a Nobel Laureate, as well as $1.4 million. A spokesman for the president says Mr. Obama will donate the entire amount to charity.

CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports that Mr. Obama is only the third U.S. President to win the Nobel Peace Prize while still in office. Theodore Roosevelt won it in 1906 and Woodrow Wilson in 1919.

Former President Jimmy Carter also won the prize in 2002, adds Knoller, but that was more than two decades after he left office.




   

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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