Mike Hudack is a tumblelog.

Still, covering Obama has its compensations, largely because the man puts on a heck of a show. He draws big, noisy, mostly younger crowds that foster the impression he is leading not a campaign but a movement. In fact, some journalists say they have to guard against getting swept away by the excitement. NBC’s Lee Cowan was candid about fighting such temptations, saying on the network’s Web site: “I think from the reporter’s point of view, it’s almost hard to remain objective, because it’s infectious energy.” Politico Editor-in-Chief John Harris said on CNN that when he was a Washington Post editor a couple of years ago, “you would send a reporter out with Obama, and it was like they needed to go through detox when they came back — ‘Oh, he’s so impressive, he’s so charismatic,’ and we’re kind of like, ‘Down, boy.’ ” MSNBC’s Chris Matthews told Jay Leno: “If you’re actually in a room with Barack Obama and you don’t cry when he gives one of those speeches, you’re not an American. It’s unbelievable.