Obama responds to letter from young boy

WEST HARTFORD, Conn., Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama personally responded to a letter sent by a 7-year-old Connecticut boy, the boy's mother says.

Amy Mondschein said her son, Aron, had written to the Illinois senator as part of a class assignment and became a "little celebrity" at the Solomon Schechter Day School in West Hartford when a response arrived last week, The Hartford (Conn.) Courant said Thursday.

"They were all excited," Mondschein said. "The whole school was abuzz. They took a picture of (Aron). He was like a little celebrity."

The proud mother said while her family rarely discusses politics, Aron has shown an interest in the upcoming presidential election.

In his letter to the potential future voter, Obama discussed the children's book character "Flat Stanley" that motivated the letter-writing assignment, the Courant reported.

"Sometimes I get a little nervous before talking in front of a crowd, but 'Flat Stanley' helped me practice the speech," the presidential hopeful wrote. "He made me recite it in front of him and then even gave me some advice so the speech would go smoothly. 'Flat Stanley' is really a great coach."