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{{Redirect4|Barack|Obama}}
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{{Infobox President-elect
| name = Barack Obama
| image = BarackObama2005portrait.jpg
| order = [[President-elect |President-elect of the United States]] <!-- // DO NOT ADD 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES UNTIL JANUARY 20, 2009 -->
| term_start = January 20, 2009
| term_end =
| vicepresident = [[Joe Biden]] (elect)
| succeeding = [[George W. Bush]]
| successor =
| jr/sr2 = Junior Senator
| state2 = [[Illinois]]
| term_start2 = January 4, 2005
| term_end2 = <!-- January 20, 2009 -->
| alongside2 = [[Dick Durbin]]
| predecessor2 = [[Peter Fitzgerald]]
| successor2 = TBA
| state_senate3 = Illinois
| state3 = [[Illinois]]
| district3 = 13<sup>th</sup>
| term_start3 = January 8, 1997
| term_end3 = November 4, 2004
| predecessor3 = [[Alice Palmer (Illinois politician)|Alice Palmer]]
| successor3 = [[Kwame Raoul]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1961|08|4}}
| birth_place = [[Honolulu, Hawaii|Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], [[United States|U.S.A.]]
| birthname = Barack Hussein Obama II
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]
| spouse = [[Michelle Obama]] <small>(m. 1992)</small>
| children = [[Family of Barack Obama#Malia Ann and Sasha Obama|Malia Ann <small>(b. 1998)</small><br />Sasha <small>(b. 2001)</small>]]
| residence = [[Kenwood, Chicago|Kenwood]], [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
| alma_mater = [[Occidental College]]<br />[[Columbia College of Columbia University|Columbia University]]<br />[[Harvard Law School]]
| profession = [[Attorney at Law|Attorney]]<br />[[Politician]]
| religion = [[United Church of Christ]]
| signature = Barack Obama signature.svg
| website = [http://www.change.gov/ Office of the President-Elect]
| footnotes = <center>More detailed articles about Barack Obama<br />————————————<br />[[Early life and career of Barack Obama|Early life and career]] '''·''' [[Family of Barack Obama|(Family]] '''·''' [[Dreams from My Father|Memoir)]]<br />[[Illinois Senate career of Barack Obama|Illinois Senate career]]<br />[[United States Senate career of Barack Obama|U.S. Senate career]]<br /> [[Barack Obama presidential primary campaign, 2008|Presidential primaries]] '''·''' [[Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008|Obama–Biden 2008]] <br />[[Political positions of Barack Obama|Policy positions]] '''·''' [[Public image of Barack Obama|Public image]]</center>
}}
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'''Barack Hussein Obama II''' ({{pron-en|bəˈrɑːk hʊˈseɪn oʊˈbɑːmə}}; born August 4, 1961) is the [[President-elect]]<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSTRE4A43VA20081105 FACTBOX: Barack Obama, Democratic President-elect] (''[[Reuters]]'', November 5, 2008); [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7711321.stm World leaders hail Obama triumph] (''[[BBC News]]'', November 5, 2008); [http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/obama.history/index.html Obama's victory caps struggles of previous generations] (''[[CNN]]'', November 5, 2008)</ref><ref>The President-elect can be yielded on election day, but the official [[Electoral College (United States)|Electoral College]] vote is not until early December.{{cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/05/content_10307989.htm|title=Backgrounder: U.S. presidential elections |date=November 5, 2008|publisher=[[Xinhua News Agency]]|accessdate=2008-11-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/election.president/index.html|title=Barack Obama wins presidential election|work=[[CNN]]|accessdate=2008-11-05}}</ref> of the [[United States of America]] and the [[Seniority in the United States Senate|junior]] [[United States Senator]] from [[Illinois]]. Obama is the [[List of African-American firsts|first]] [[African-American]] to be elected President of the United States,<ref>55% of White Americans classify Obama as biracial when they are told that he has a white mother, while 66% of African Americans consider him black.({{cite news|url=http://bbsnews.net/article.php/20061222014017231 |title=Williams/Zogby Poll: Americans' Attitudes Changing Towards Multiracial Candidates |date=2006-12-22 |accessdate=2007-09-23 |publisher=BBSNews.com}}) Obama describes himself as "black" or "African American", using both terms interchangeably ({{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/11/60minutes/main2458530.shtml |title=Transcript excerpt: Senator Barack Obama on Sixty Minutes |publisher=CBS News |date=2007-02-11 |accessdate=2008-01-29}})</ref> and also the first [[African American]] to be nominated for President by a major political party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/bangla/archive/2008-08/2008-08-28-voa1.cfm?CFID=62046554&CFTOKEN=17348385|title=First African American Nominated as Presidential Candidate of US Major Party|date=2008-08-28|publisher=[[Voice of America]]|accessdate=2008-09-18}}</ref>

He is a graduate of [[Columbia University]] and [[Harvard Law School]], where he was the first African American to serve as president of the ''[[Harvard Law Review]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2DC1631F935A35751C0A966958260|title=First Black Elected to Head Harvard's Law Review'|accessyear=2008|accessmonthday=November 6|publisher=NY Times|year=1990|author=Butterfield, Fox}}</ref> Obama worked as a [[Community organizing|community organizer]] and practiced as a [[civil rights]] attorney before serving three terms in the [[Illinois Senate]] from 1997 to 2004. He taught [[constitutional law]] at the [[University of Chicago Law School]] from 1992 to 2004. Following an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] in 2000, he announced his campaign for the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] in January 2003. After a primary victory in March 2004, Obama delivered the [[keynote|keynote address]] at the [[2004 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]] in July 2004. He was elected to the Senate in November 2004 with 70 percent of the vote.

As a member of the Democratic minority in the [[109th United States Congress|109th Congress]], he helped create legislation to control [[conventional weapons]] and to promote greater public accountability in the use of federal funds. He also made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. During the [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]], he helped create legislation regarding [[lobbying in the United States|lobbying]] and [[electoral fraud]], [[Mitigation of global warming|climate change]], [[nuclear terrorism]], and care for returned U.S. military personnel.

Obama announced [[Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008|his presidential campaign]] in February 2007, and was nominated at the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]] with Senator [[Joe Biden]] of [[Delaware]] as his [[Vice President of the United States|vice presidential]] [[running mate]]. In the [[United States presidential election, 2008|2008 presidential election]] he won 53% of the popular vote and 364 electoral college votes against Senator [[John McCain]]'s 46% of the popular vote and 162 electoral college votes (Missouri (11 votes) and Nebraska's second district (1 vote) are still being counted).<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7697829.stm BBC News US Election Results Map], as of 6 November 2008.</ref>

==Early life and career==
{{main|Early life and career of Barack Obama}}
[[Image: Barack-obama-mother.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A young Obama pictured with his mother, [[Ann Dunham]], who raised him.]]

Barack Obama was born at the [[Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children]] in [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]],<ref name="maraniss">{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/23/AR2008082301620_pf.html |title=Though Obama Had to Leave to Find Himself, It Is Hawaii That Made His Rise Possible | author=Maraniss, David | publisher=''The Washington Post'' | date=2008-08-22 | accessdate=2008-10-27}}</ref> to [[Barack Obama, Sr.|Barack Hussein Obama, Sr.]], a [[Luo (Kenya and Tanzania)|Luo]] from [[Nyang’oma Kogelo]], [[Nyanza Province]], [[Kenya]], and [[Ann Dunham]], a [[white American]] from [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]], [[Kansas]]<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[FactCheck]] |url=http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html |title=Born in the U.S.A. |date=August 21, 2008 |accessmonthday=October 24 |accessyear=2008}}</ref> of mainly [[English people|English]], [[Irish people|Irish]] and smaller amounts of [[German]] descent.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,269836,00.html FOXNews.com - Report: Obama's Irish Roots Unearthed - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.usnews.com/blogs/john-farrell/2008/10/30/barack-obamas-irish-heritage.html Barack Obama's Irish Heritage - John A. Farrell (usnews.com)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/12/AR2007051201551.html Tiny Irish Village Is Latest Place to Claim Obama as Its Own - washingtonpost.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> His parents met in 1960 while attending the [[University of Hawaii at Manoa]], where his father was a foreign student.<ref>Obama (1995), pp. 9–10. For book excerpts, see {{cite news |title=Barack Obama: Creation of Tales|date=2004-11-01 |url=http://www.nationmedia.com/EastAfrican/01112004/Features/PA2-2212.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070927225314/http://www.nationmedia.com/EastAfrican/01112004/Features/PA2-2212.html |archivedate=2007-09-27 |work=East African |accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref><ref name="baltimoresun2007">{{cite news|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/politics/chi-0703270151mar27-archive,0,91024,full.story | title=Obama's mom: Not just a girl from Kansas: Strong personalities shaped a future senator | author=Tim Jones | publisher=''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', reprinted in ''[[Baltimore Sun]]''| date=2007-03-27 | accessdate=2008-10-27}}</ref> The couple married February 2, 1961;<ref>{{cite news |author=Ripley, Amanda |title=The Story of Barack Obama's Mother |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1729524,00.html |date=2008-04-09 |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |accessdate=2007-04-09}}</ref> they separated when Obama was two years old and subsequently divorced in 1964.<ref name="baltimoresun2007"/> Obama's father returned to Kenya and saw his son only once more before dying in an automobile accident in 1982.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=Merida |title=The Ghost of a Father |date=2007-12-14 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2007/12/13/ST2007121301893.html |work=Washington Post |accessdate=2008-06-24}} See also: {{cite news |first=Philip |last=Ochieng |title=From Home Squared to the US Senate: How Barack Obama Was Lost and Found |date=2004-11-01 |url=http://www.nationmedia.com/EastAfrican/01112004/Features/PA2-11.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070927223905/http://www.nationmedia.com/EastAfrican/01112004/Features/PA2-11.html |archivedate=2007-09-27 |work=East African |accessdate=2008-06-24}} In August 2006, Obama flew his wife and two daughters from Chicago to join him in a visit to his father's birthplace, a village near [[Kisumu]] in rural western Kenya. {{cite news |first=Nico |last=Gnecchi |title=Obama Receives Hero's Welcome at His Family's Ancestral Village in Kenya |date=2006-02-27 |url=http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-08/2006-08-27-voa17.cfm |work=Voice of America |accessdate=2008-06-24}}</ref>

After her divorce, Dunham married [[Lolo Soetoro]], and the family moved to Soetoro's home country of [[Indonesia]] in 1967, where Obama attended local schools, such as Asisi, in [[Jakarta]] until he was ten years old. He then returned to Honolulu to live with his [[Madelyn and Stanley Dunham|maternal grandparents]] while attending [[Punahou School]] from the [[Education in the United States#School grades|fifth grade]] in 1971 until his graduation from high school in 1979.<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Serafin |title=Punahou Grad Stirs Up Illinois Politics |date=2004-03-21 |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/03/21/news/story4.html |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |accessdate=2008-04-13}} See also: Obama (1995), Chapters 3 and 4.</ref> Obama's mother returned to Hawaii in 1972 for several years, and then in 1977 went back to Indonesia, where she worked as an [[anthropology|anthropological]] field worker. She stayed there most of the rest of her life, returning to Hawaii in 1994. She died of [[ovarian cancer]] in 1995.<ref>{{cite news |first=Amanda |last=Ripley |title=The Story of Barack Obama's Mother |date=2008-04-09 |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1729524,00.html |work=Time |accessdate=2008-06-24}} See also: {{cite news |first=Julia |last=Suryakusuma |title=Obama for President... of Indonesia |date=2006-11-29 |work=Jakarta Post |url=http://old.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20061129.F03 |accessdate=2008-06-24}}</ref>

As an adult Obama admitted that during high school he used [[marijuana]], [[cocaine]], and alcohol, which he described at the 2008 [[Civil Forum on the Presidency]] as his greatest moral failure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/16/warren.forum/ |title=Obama, McCain talk issues at pastor's forum - CNN.com |publisher=cnn.com |date=2008-08-17 |accessdate=2008-08-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/24/news/dems.php |title=Barack Obama, asked about drug history, admits he inhaled |publisher=International Herald Tribune |date=2006-10-25 |accessdate=2008-08-31}}</ref>

Following high school, Obama moved to [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], where he studied at [[Occidental College]] for two years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oxy Remembers "Barry" Obama '83 |date=2007-01-29 |url=http://www.oxy.edu/x2526.xml |publisher=Occidental College |accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref> He then transferred to [[Columbia College of Columbia University|Columbia College]] in [[New York City]], where he majored in [[political science]] with a specialization in [[international relations]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct_archive/jan05/cover.php |title=Barack Obama '83 |work=Columbia College Today |author=Boss-Bicak, Shira |date=January 2005 |accessdate=2008-06-09}}</ref> Obama graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] from Columbia in 1983, then at the start of the following year worked for a year at the [[Business International Corporation]]<ref name="BOCV">{{cite web|url=http://www.law.uchicago.edu/faculty/obama/cv.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20010509024017/http://www.law.uchicago.edu/faculty/obama/cv.html|archivedate=2001-05-09|title=Curriculum Vitae|publisher=The University of Chicago Law School|accessdate=2008-11-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Sasha |last=Issenberg |title=Obama shows hints of his year in global finance: Tied markets to social aid |date=2008-08-06 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/08/06/obama_shows_hints_of_his_year_in_global_finance/?page=1 |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref> and then at the [[New York Public Interest Research Group]].<ref name="Who's Who 2008">{{cite book |author=Chassie, Karen (ed.) |year=2007 |title=Who's Who in America, 2008 |url=http://www.marquiswhoswho.com/products/WAprodinfo.asp |location=New Providence, NJ |publisher=Marquis Who's Who |isbn=9780837970110 |accessdate=2008-06-06 |pages=p. 3468}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Janny |last=Scott |title=Obama's Account of New York Years Often Differs from What Others Say |date=2007-10-30 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/us/politics/30obama.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=2008-04-13}} Obama (1995), pp. 133–140; Mendell (2007), pp. 62–63.</ref>

After four years in New York City, Obama moved to [[Chicago]], where he was hired as director of the Developing Communities Project (DCP), a church-based [[Community organizing|community organization]] originally comprising eight Catholic parishes in Greater Roseland ([[Roseland, Chicago|Roseland]], [[West Pullman, Chicago|West Pullman]], and [[Riverdale, Chicago|Riverdale]]) on Chicago's far [[South Side (Chicago)|South Side]], and worked there for three years from June 1985 to May 1988.<ref name="Who's Who 2008"/><ref>{{cite news |author=Secter, Bob; McCormick, John |date=2007-03-30 |title=Portrait of a pragmatist |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0703300121mar30,1,6651421,full.story |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080209030448/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0703300121mar30,1,6651421,full.story |archivedate=2008-02-09 |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 |accessdate=2008-06-06}} {{cite news |first=Ryan |last=Lizza |title=The Agitator: Barack Obama's Unlikely Political Education |format=alternate link |date=2007-03-19 |url=http://www.pickensdemocrats.org/info/TheAgitator_070319.htm |work=New Republic |accessdate=2008-04-13}} Obama (1995), pp. 140–295; Mendell (2007), pp. 63–83.</ref> During his three years as the DCP's director, its staff grew from one to thirteen and its annual budget grew from $70,000 to $400,000, with accomplishments including helping set up a job training program, a college preparatory tutoring program, and a tenants' rights organization in [[Altgeld Gardens, Chicago|Altgeld Gardens]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Matchan, Linda |date=1990-02-15 |title=A Law Review breakthrough |url=http://search.boston.com/local/Search.do?s.sm.query=&s.author=Linda+Matchan&s.tab=globe&s.si%28simplesearchinput%29.sortBy=-articleprintpublicationdate&docType=&date=&s.startDate=1990-02-15&s.endDate=1990-02-15 |format=paid archive |work=The Boston Globe |page=29 |accessdate=2008-06-06}} {{cite news |author=Corr, John |date=1990-02-27 |title=From mean streets to hallowed halls |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&p_theme=pi&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_trackval=PI&s_search_type=customized&s_dispstring=Author(John%20Corr)%20AND%20date(02/27/1990%20to%2002/27/1990)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=02/27/1990%20to%2002/27/1990)&p_field_advanced-0=Author&p_text_advanced-0=(John%20Corr)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=_rank_:D&xcal_ranksort=4&xcal_useweights=yes |format=paid archive |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |page=C01 |accessdate=2008-06-06}}</ref> Obama also worked as a consultant and instructor for the [[Gamaliel Foundation]], a community organizing institute.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Obama, Barack |month=August–September |year=1988 |title=Why organize? Problems and promise in the inner city |journal=Illinois Issues |volume=14 |issue=8–9 |pages=40–42 |accessdate=2008-06-06}} reprinted in: {{cite book |year=1990 |pages=pp. 35–40 |author=Knoepfle, Peg (ed.) |title=After Alinsky: community organizing in Illinois |location=Springfield, IL |publisher=Sangamon State University |isbn=0962087335 |accessdate=2008-06-06}} {{cite news |author=Tayler, Letta; Herbert, Keith |date=2008-03-02 |title=Obama forged path as Chicago community organizer |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/nation/ny-usobam025598601mar02,0,7841545,full.story |work=Newsday |page=A06 |accessdate=2008-06-06}}</ref> In mid-1988, he traveled for the first time to Europe for three weeks and then for five weeks in Kenya, where he met many of his [[Family of Barack Obama#Paternal relations|Kenyan relatives]] for the first time.<ref>Obama (1995), pp. 299–437.</ref>

Obama entered [[Harvard Law School]] in late 1988. At the end of his first year, he was selected, based on his grades and a writing competition, as an editor of the ''[[Harvard Law Review]]''.<ref name="Harvard Law 2007">{{cite news |author=Levenson, Michael; Saltzman, Jonathan |date=2007-01-28 |title=At Harvard Law, a unifying voice |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/28/at_harvard_law_a_unifying_voice/?page=full |work=The Boston Globe |accessdate=2008-06-15}} {{cite news |author=Kantor, Jodi |date=2007-01-28 |title=In law school, Obama found political voice |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/us/politics/28obama.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all |work=The New York Times |page=1 |accessdate=2008-06-15}} {{cite news |author=Kodama, Marie C |date=2007-01-19 |title=Obama left mark on HLS |url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=516664 |work=The Harvard Crimson |accessdate=2008-06-15}} {{cite news |author=Mundy, Liza |title=A series of fortunate events |date=2007-08-12 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR2007080802038_pf.html |work=The Washington Post |page=W10 |accessdate=2008-06-15}} {{cite journal |author=Heilemann, John |title=When they were young |date=2007-10-22 |url=http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=When+They+Were+Young&expire=&urlID=24417790&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnymag.com%2Fnews%2Ffeatures%2F39321%2F&partnerID=73272 |journal=New York |volume=40 |issue=37 |pages=32–7, 132–3 |accessdate=2008-06-15}} Mendell (2007), pp. 80–92.</ref> In February 1990, in his second year, he was elected president of the ''Law Review'', a full-time volunteer position functioning as editor-in-chief and supervising the ''Law Review'''s staff of eighty editors.<ref name="Harvard Law 1990">{{cite news |author=Butterfield, Fox |date=1990-02-06|title=First black elected to head Harvard's Law Review |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2DC1631F935A35751C0A966958260 |work=The New York Times |page=A20 |accessdate=2008-06-15}} {{cite news |author=Ybarra, Michael J |date=1990-02-07 |title=Activist in Chicago now heads Harvard Law Review |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28797353.html?dids=28797353:28797353&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |format=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=3 |accessdate=2008-06-15}} {{cite news |author=Matchan, Linda |date=1990-02-15 |title=A Law Review breakthrough |url=http://search.boston.com/local/Search.do?s.sm.query=&s.author=Linda+Matchan&s.tab=globe&s.si%28simplesearchinput%29.sortBy=-articleprintpublicationdate&docType=&date=&s.startDate=1990-02-15&s.endDate=1990-02-15 |format=paid archive |work=The Boston Globe |page=29 |accessdate=2008-06-15}} {{cite news |author=Corr, John |date=1990-02-27 |title=From mean streets to hallowed halls |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&p_theme=pi&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_trackval=PI&s_search_type=customized&s_dispstring=Author(John%20Corr)%20AND%20date(02/27/1990%20to%2002/27/1990)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=02/27/1990%20to%2002/27/1990)&p_field_advanced-0=Author&p_text_advanced-0=(John%20Corr)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=_rank_:D&xcal_ranksort=4&xcal_useweights=yes |format=paid archive |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |page=C01 |accessdate=2008-06-15}} {{cite news |author=Drummond, Tammerlin |date=1990-03-12 |title=Barack Obama's Law; Harvard Law Review's first black president plans a life of public service |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/60017156.html?dids=60017156:60017156&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |format=paid archive |work=Los Angeles Times |page=E1 |accessdate=2008-06-15}} {{cite news |author=Pugh, Allison J. (Associated Press) |date=1990-04-18 |title=Law Review's first black president aims to help poor |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&p_theme=realcities2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_site=miami&s_trackval=MH&s_dispstring=Title(Law%20Review's%20first%20black%20president%20aims%20to%20help%20poor)%20AND%20date(04/18/1990%20to%2004/18/1990)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=04/18/1990%20to%2004/18/1990)&p_field_advanced-0=title&p_text_advanced-0=(Law%20Review's%20first%20black%20president%20aims%20to%20help%20poor)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=_rank_:D&xcal_ranksort=4&xcal_useweights=yes |format=paid archive |work=The Miami Herald |page=C01 |accessdate=2008-06-15}}</ref> Obama's election as the [[List of African-American firsts|first black president of the ''Law Review'']] was widely reported and followed by several long, detailed profiles.<ref name="Harvard Law 1990"/> During his summers, he returned to Chicago where he worked as a summer associate at the law firms of [[Sidley Austin|Sidley & Austin]] in 1989 and [[Hopkins & Sutter]] in 1990.<ref>{{cite news |author=Aguilar, Louis |date=1990-07-11 |title=Survey: Law firms slow to add minority partners |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28774085.html?dids=28774085:28774085&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |format=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 (Business) |quote=Barack Obama, a summer associate at Hopkins & Sutter in Chicago |accessdate=2008-06-15}}</ref> After graduating with a [[Juris Doctor|Juris Doctor (J.D.)]] [[Latin honors|''magna cum laude'']]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/may/09/barackobama.uselections20081|title=Barack Obama|last=Adams|first=Richard|date=2007-05-09|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=2008-10-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/973560/Barack-Obama|title=Barack Obama (American politician)|last=Mendell|first=David|accessdate=2008-10-26}}</ref> from Harvard in 1991, he returned to Chicago.<ref name="Harvard Law 2007"/>

The publicity from his election as the first black president of the ''Harvard Law Review'' led to a publishing contract and advance for a book about race relations.<ref name="Scott 2008a">{{cite news |author=Scott, Janny |date=2008-05-18 |title=The story of Obama, written by Obama |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/us/politics/18memoirs.html?pagewanted=all |work=The New York Times |page=1 |accessdate=2008-06-15}} Obama (1995), pp. xiii–xvii.</ref> In an effort to recruit him to their faculty, the [[University of Chicago Law School]] provided Obama with a fellowship and an office to work on his book.<ref name="Scott 2008a"/> He originally planned to finish the book in one year, but it took much longer as the book evolved into a personal memoir. In order to work without interruptions, Obama and his wife, [[Michelle Obama|Michelle]], traveled to [[Bali]] where he wrote for several months. The manuscript was finally published in mid-1995 as ''[[Dreams from My Father]]''.<ref name="Scott 2008a"/>

Obama directed Illinois' [[Project Vote]] from April to October 1992, a voter registration drive with a staff of ten and seven hundred volunteers; it achieved its goal of registering 150,000 of 400,000 unregistered African Americans in the state, and led to ''Crain's Chicago Business'' naming Obama to its 1993 list of "40 under Forty" powers to be.<ref name="Illinois Blue Book 2000">{{cite book |author=White, Jesse (ed.) |year=2000 |title=Illinois Blue Book, 2000, Millennium ed. |url=http://www.sos.state.il.us/bb/toc.html |location=Springfield, IL |publisher=Illinois Secretary of State |oclc=43923973 |accessdate=2008-06-06 |pages=p. 83}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Jarrett, Vernon |date=1992-08-11 |title='Project Vote' brings power to the people |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Vernon%20Jarrett)%20AND%20date(8/11/1992%20to%208/11/1992)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=8/11/1992%20to%208/11/1992)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Vernon%20Jarrett)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no |work=Chicago Sun-Times |format=paid archive |page=23 |accessdate=2008-06-06}} {{cite journal |author=Reynolds, Gretchen |month=January |year=1993 |title=Vote of Confidence |url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-1993/Vote-of-Confidence/ |journal=[[Chicago (magazine)|Chicago]] |volume=42 |issue=1 |pages=53–54 |accessdate=2008-06-06}} {{cite journal |author=Anderson, Veronica |month=September 27–October 3, |year=1993 |title=40 under Forty: Barack Obama, Director, Illinois Project Vote |journal=[[Crain Communications Inc.|Crain's Chicago Business]] |volume=16 |issue=39 |accessdate=2008-06-06 |pages=43}}</ref>

[[Image:Ann Dunham with father and children.jpg|thumb|right|Right-to-left: Barack Obama and half-sister [[Maya Soetoro]], with their mother [[Ann Dunham]] and grandfather [[Madelyn and Stanley Dunham|Stanley Dunham]], in Hawaii (early 1970s).]]

Beginning in 1992, Obama taught [[constitutional law]] at the [[University of Chicago Law School]] for twelve years, being first classified as a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996, and then as a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004.<ref>{{cite web |author=University of Chicago Law School |date=2008-03-27 |title=Statement regarding Barack Obama |publisher=University of Chicago Law School |url=http://www.law.uchicago.edu/media/index.html |accessdate=2008-06-10}} {{cite web |author=Miller, Joe |date=2008-03-28 |title=Was Barack Obama really a constitutional law professor?|publisher=FactCheck.org |url=http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/was_barack_obama_really_a_constitutional_law.html |accessdate=2008-06-10}} {{cite web |author=Holan, Angie Drobnic |date=2008-03-07 |title=Obama's 20 years of experience |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/mar/07/obamas-20-years-experience/ |publisher=PolitiFact.com |accessdate=2008-06-10}}</ref>

He also, in 1993, joined Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, a twelve-attorney law firm specializing in civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development, where he was an [[associate (business rank)|associate]] for three years from 1993 to 1996, then [[of counsel]] from 1996 to 2004, with his law license becoming inactive in 2002.<ref name="Who's Who 2008"/><ref>{{cite news |author=Robinson, Mike (Associated Press) |date=2007-02-10 |title=Obama got start in civil rights practice |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/02/20/obama_got_start_in_civil_rights_practice/ |work=The Boston Globe |accessdate=2008-06-15}} {{cite news |author=Pallasch, Abdon M |date=2007-12-17 |title=As lawyer, Obama was strong, silent type; He was 'smart, innovative, relentless,' and he mostly let other lawyers do the talking |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/700499,CST-NWS-Obama-law17.article |work=Chicago Sun-Times |page=4 |accessdate=2008-06-15}} {{cite news |author= |date=1993-06-27 |title=People |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24302659.html?dids=24302659:24302659&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |format=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=9 (Business) |accessdate=2008-06-15}} {{cite news |author= |date=1993-07-05 |title=Business appointments |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Business%20appointments)%20AND%20date(7/5/1993%20to%207/5/1993)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=7/5/1993%20to%207/5/1993)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Business%20appointments)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no |format=paid archive |work=Chicago-Sun-Times |page=40 |accessdate=2008-06-15}} {{cite web |author=Miner, Barnhill & Galland |year=2008 |title=About Us |url=http://www.lawmbg.com/index.cfm/PageID/2711 |publisher=Miner, Barnhill & Galland – Chicago, Illinois |accessdate=2008-06-15}} Obama (1995), pp. 438–439, Mendell (2007), pp. 104–106.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ARDC Individual Attorney Record of Public Registration and Public Disciplinary and Disability Information as of October 17, 2008 at 12:52:13 PM |url=https://www.iardc.org/ldetail.asp?id=595938384 |publisher=Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois |accessdate=2008-10-19}}</ref>

Obama was a founding member of the board of directors of [[Public Allies]] in 1992, resigning before his wife, Michelle, became the founding executive director of Public Allies Chicago in early 1993.<ref name="Who's Who 2008"/><ref>{{cite web |author=Public Allies |year=2008 |title=Fact Sheet on Public Allies' History with Senator Barack and Michelle Obama |url=http://www.publicallies.org/site/c.liKUL3PNLvF/b.3960231/ |publisher=[[Public Allies]] |accessdate=2008-06-06}}</ref> He served from 1994 to 2002 on the board of directors of the [[Woods Fund of Chicago]], which in 1985 had been the first foundation to fund the Developing Communities Project, and also from 1994 to 2002 on the board of directors of The [[Joyce Foundation]].<ref name="Who's Who 2008"/> Obama served on the board of directors of the [[Chicago Annenberg Challenge]] from 1995 to 2002, as founding president and chairman of the board of directors from 1995 to 1999.<ref name="Who's Who 2008"/> He also served on the board of directors of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Center for Neighborhood Technology, and the Lugenia Burns Hope Center.<ref name="Who's Who 2008"/>

==State legislator, 1997–2004==
{{main|Illinois Senate career of Barack Obama}}

Obama was elected to the [[Illinois Senate]] in 1996, succeeding State Senator [[Alice Palmer (Illinois politician)|Alice Palmer]] as Senator from Illinois' 13th District, which then spanned Chicago [[South Side (Chicago)|South Side]] neighborhoods from [[Hyde Park, Chicago|Hyde Park]]-[[Kenwood, Chicago|Kenwood]] south to [[South Shore, Chicago|South Shore]] and west to [[Chicago Lawn, Chicago|Chicago Lawn]].<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Jackson |coauthors=Ray Long |title=Obama Knows His Way Around a Ballot |date=2007-04-03 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070403obama-ballot,1,57567.story |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=2008-01-14}}
{{cite book |author=[[Jesse White (politician)|White, Jesse]] |year=2001 |chapter=Legislative Districts of Cook County, 1991 Reapportionment |chapterurl=http://www.sos.state.il.us/publications/02bluebook/legislative_branch/legdistrictmaps.pdf |title=Illinois Blue Book 2001–2002 |location=Springfield |publisher=[[Secretary of State of Illinois|Illinois Secretary of State]] |pages=p. 65}}State Sen. District 13 = State Rep. Districts 25 & 26.</ref> Once elected, Obama gained bipartisan support for legislation reforming ethics and health care laws.<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Slevin |title=Obama Forged Political Mettle in Illinois Capitol |date=2007-02-09 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/08/AR2007020802262.html |work=Washington Post |accessdate=2008-04-20}} {{cite news |first=Scott |last=Helman |title=In Illinois, Obama dealt with Lobbyists |date=2007-09-23 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/09/23/in_illinois_obama_dealt_with_lobbyists/ |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=2008-04-20}} See also: {{cite news |title=Obama Record May Be Gold Mine for Critics |date=2007-01-17 |publisher=CBS News |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml |work=Associated Press |accessdate=2008-04-20}} {{cite news |title=In-Depth Look at Obama's Political Career |date=2007-02-09 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |url=http://video.chicagotribune.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?clipid1=1226539 |work=CLTV |format=video |accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref> He sponsored a law increasing [[tax credit]]s for low-income workers, negotiated welfare reform, and promoted increased subsidies for childcare.<ref name=Scott20070730>{{cite news |first=Janny |last=Scott |title=In Illinois, Obama Proved Pragmatic and Shrewd |date=2007-07-30 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=2008-04-20}} See also: {{cite news |first=Rick |last=Pearson |coauthors=Ray Long |title=Careful Steps, Looking Ahead |date=2007-05-03 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-0705030101may03,1,7439904.story |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080216014957/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-0705030101may03,1,7439904.story |archivedate=2008-02-16 |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref> In 2001, as co-chairman of the bipartisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, Obama supported Republican Governor Ryan's payday loan regulations and predatory mortgage lending regulations aimed at averting home foreclosures.<ref>{{cite news |author=Allison, Melissa |date=2000-12-15 |title=State takes on predatory lending; Rules would halt single-premium life insurance financing |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/65214450.html?dids=65214450:65214450&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |type=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 (Business) |accessdate=2008-06-01}} {{cite news |author=Long, Ray; Allison, Melissa |date=2001-04-18 |title=Illinois OKs predatory loan curbs; State aims to avert home foreclosures. |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/71459393.html?dids=71459393:71459393&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |type=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 |accessdate=2008-06-01}}</ref>

Obama was reelected to the Illinois Senate in 1998, and again in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |title=13th District: Barack Obama |format=archive |accessdate=2008-04-20 |date=2000-08-24 |publisher=Illinois State Senate Democrats |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20000824102110/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |archivedate=2000-04-12}} {{cite web |url=http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |title=13th District: Barack Obama |format=archive |accessdate=2008-04-20 |date=2004-10-09 |publisher=Illinois State Senate Democrats |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20040802233730/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |archivedate=2004-08-02}}</ref> In 2000, he lost a Democratic primary run for the U.S. House of Representatives to four-term incumbent [[Bobby Rush]] by a margin of two to one.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2000/ilh.htm |title=Federal Elections 2000: U.S. House Results - Illinois |publisher=[[Federal Election Commission]] |accessdate=2008-04-24}}. See also: {{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14502364|title=Obama's Loss May Have Aided White House Bid}} and {{cite news |first=Janny |last=Scott |title=A Streetwise Veteran Schooled Young Obama |date=2007-09-09 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/us/politics/09obama.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref><ref name=McClelland20070212>{{cite news |first=Edward |last=McClelland |title=How Obama Learned to Be a Natural |date=2007-02-12 |url=http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/02/12/obama_natural/ |work=Salon |accessdate=2008-04-20}} See also: {{cite news |first=Richard |last=Wolffe |coauthors=Daren Briscoe |title=Across the Divide |date=2007-07-16 |publisher=MSNBC |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/33156 |work=Newsweek |accessdate=2008-04-20}} {{cite news |first=Scott |last=Helman |title=Early Defeat Launched a Rapid Political Climb |date=2007-10-12 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/12/early_defeat_launched_a_rapid_political_climb/ |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=2008-04-20}} and {{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-10-24-3157940059_x.htm|title=Obama learned from failed Congress run |work=USA Today |author=Wills, Christopher|date=2007-10-24 |accessdate=2008-09-20}}</ref>

In January 2003, Obama became chairman of the Illinois Senate's Health and Human Services Committee when Democrats, after a decade in the minority, regained a majority.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jackie |last=Calmes |title=Statehouse Yields Clues to Obama |date=2007-02-23 |url=http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117219748197216894-Sn6oV_4KLQHp_xz7CjYLuyjv3Jg_20070324.html |work=Wall Street Journal |accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref> He sponsored and led unanimous, bipartisan passage of legislation to monitor [[racial profiling]] by requiring police to record the race of drivers they detained and legislation making Illinois the first state to mandate videotaping of homicide interrogations.<ref name=Scott20070730 /><ref>{{cite news |author=Tavella, Anne Marie |date=2003-04-14 |title=Profiling, taping plans pass Senate |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ADHB&p_theme=adhb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=Profiling,%20AND%20taping%20AND%20plans%20AND%20pass%20AND%20Senate&s_dispstring=Profiling,%20taping%20plans%20pass%20Senate%20AND%20date(4/4/2003%20to%204/4/2003)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=4/4/2003%20to%204/4/2003)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no |type=paid archive |work=Daily Herald |page=17 |accessdate=2008-06-01}} {{cite news |author=Haynes, V. Dion |date=2003-06-29 |title=Fight racial profiling at local level, lawmaker says; U.S. guidelines get mixed review |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/352884461.html?dids=352884461:352884461&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |type=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=8 |accessdate=2008-06-01}} {{cite news |author=Pearson, Rick |date=2003-07-17 |title=Taped confessions to be law; State will be 1st to pass legislation |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/370136121.html?dids=370136121:370136121&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |type=paid archive |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 (Metro) |accessdate=2008-06-01}}</ref> During his 2004 general election campaign for U.S. Senate, police representatives credited Obama for his active engagement with police organizations in enacting [[capital punishment in the United States|death penalty]] reforms.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sam |last=Youngman |coauthors=Aaron Blake |title=Obama's Crime Votes Are Fodder for Rivals |date=2007-03-14 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obamas-crime-votes-are-fodder-for-rivals-2007-03-13.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=2008-04-20}} See also: {{cite news |title=US Presidential Candidate Obama Cites Work on State Death Penalty Reforms |date=2007-11-12 |publisher=International Herald Tribune |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/12/america/NA-POL-US-Obama-Death-Penalty.php |work=Associated Press |accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref> Obama resigned from the Illinois Senate in November 2004 following his election to the US Senate.<ref>{{cite news |first=Melanie |last=Coffee |title=Attorney Chosen to Fill Obama's State Senate Seat |date=2004-11-06 |publisher=HPKCC |url=http://www.hydepark.org/hpkccnews/raoul.htm#ap |work=Associated Press |accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref>

==2004 U.S. Senate campaign==
{{seealso|United States Senate election in Illinois, 2004}}

In mid-2002, Obama began considering a run for the U.S. Senate; he enlisted political strategist [[David Axelrod (political consultant)|David Axelrod]] that fall and formally announced his candidacy in January 2003.<ref>{{cite news |first=Scott |last=Helman |title=Early Defeat Launched a Rapid Political Climb |date=2007-10-12 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/12/early_defeat_launched_a_rapid_political_climb/ |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref> Decisions by Republican incumbent [[Peter Fitzgerald]] and his Democratic predecessor [[Carol Moseley Braun]] not to contest the race launched wide-open Democratic and Republican primary contests involving fifteen candidates.<ref>{{cite news |last=Davey |first=Monica |title=Closely Watched Illinois Senate Race Attracts 7 Candidates in Millionaire Range |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/07/politics/campaign/07ILLI.html |work=The New York Times |date=2004-03-07 |accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref> Obama's candidacy was boosted by Axelrod's advertising campaign featuring images of the late Chicago Mayor [[Harold Washington]] and an endorsement by the daughter of the late [[Paul Simon (politician)|Paul Simon]], former U.S. Senator for Illinois.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Wallace-Wells |title=Obama's Narrator |date=2007-04-01 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/magazine/01axelrod.t.html |work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref> He received over 52% of the vote in the March 2004 primary, emerging 29% ahead of his nearest Democratic rival.<ref>{{cite news |first=Monica |last=Davey |title=From Crowded Field, Democrats Choose State Legislator to Seek Senate Seat |date=2004-03-17 |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E4D61431F934A25750C0A9629C8B63 |work=New York Times |accessdate=2008-04-13}} See also: {{cite news |first=John S |last=Jackson |title=The Making of a Senator: Barack Obama and the 2004 Illinois Senate Race |date=August 2006 |publisher=Southern Illinois University |url=http://www.siu.edu/~ppi/PDF/papers/Obama.pdf |work=Occasional Paper of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute |accessdate=2008-04-13|format=PDF}}</ref>

Obama's expected opponent in the general election, Republican primary winner [[Jack Ryan (2004 U.S. Senate candidate)|Jack Ryan]], withdrew from the race in June 2004.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Drops Out of Senate Race in Illinois |date=2004-06-25 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/25/il.ryan/ |work=CNN |accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref>

In July 2004, Obama wrote and delivered the keynote address at the [[2004 Democratic National Convention]] in Boston, Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Bernstein|title=The Speech |date=June 2007|url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/June-2007/The-Speech/ |work=Chicago Magazine|accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref> After describing his maternal grandfather's experiences as a [[World War II]] veteran and a beneficiary of the [[New Deal|New Deal's]] [[Federal Housing Administration|FHA]] and [[Servicemen's Readjustment Act (USA)|G.I. Bill]] programs, Obama spoke about changing the U.S. government's economic and social priorities. He questioned the Bush administration's management of the Iraq War and highlighted America's obligations to its soldiers. Drawing examples from U.S. history, he criticized heavily partisan views of the electorate and asked Americans to find unity in diversity, saying, "There is not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America."<ref>{{cite web |first=Barack |last=Obama |title=Keynote Address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention |format=text or [http://www.barackobama.com/tv/speeches.php?bcpid=900718856&bclid=900554575&bctid=791793079 video] |date=2004-07-27 |url=http://www.barackobama.com/2004/07/27/keynote_address_at_the_2004_de.php |publisher=BarackObama.com |accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref> Broadcasts of the speech by major news organizations launched Obama's status as a national political figure and boosted his campaign for U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite news |first=Randal C |last=Archibold |title=The Illinois Candidate; Day After, Keynote Speaker Finds Admirers Everywhere |date=2004-07-29 |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E7DB103DF93AA15754C0A9629C8B63 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=2008-04-13}} {{cite news |first=Ronald |last=Roach |title=Obama Rising |date=2004-10-07 |publisher=DiverseEducation.com |url=http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_4041.shtml |work=Black Issues In Higher Education |accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref>

In August 2004, two months after Ryan's withdrawal and less than three months before Election Day, [[Alan Keyes]] accepted the Illinois Republican Party's nomination to replace Ryan.<ref>{{cite news |first=Maura Kelly |last=Lannan |title=Alan Keyes Enters U.S. Senate Race in Illinois Against Rising Democratic Star |date=2004-08-09 |publisher=Union-Tribune (San Diego) |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20040809-0849-illinoissenate.html |work=Associated Press |accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref> A long-time resident of Maryland, Keyes established legal residency in Illinois with the nomination.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ford |last=Liam |coauthors=David Mendell |title=Keyes Sets Up House in Cal City |date=2004-08-13 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/elections/chi-0408130201aug13,1,7640082.story |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref> In the November 2004 general election, Obama received 70% of the vote to Keyes's 27%, the largest victory margin for a statewide race in Illinois history.<ref>{{cite news |title=America Votes 2004: U.S. Senate / Illinois |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/IL/S/01/index.html |publisher=CNN |accessdate=2008-04-13}} {{cite news |first=Peter |last=Slevin |title=For Obama, a Handsome Payoff in Political Gambles |date=2007-11-13 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/12/AR2007111201945.html |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref>

==U.S. Senator, from 2005==
{{main|United States Senate career of Barack Obama}}

Obama was sworn in as a senator on January 4, 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://obama.senate.gov/about/ |title=About Barack Obama |accessdate=2008-04-27 |publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office}}
</ref> Obama was the fifth African-American Senator in U.S. history, and the third to have been [[Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|popularly elected]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/h_multi_sections_and_teasers/Photo_Exhibit_African_American_Senators.htm |title=Breaking New Ground: African American Senators |publisher=U.S. Senate Historical Office |accessdate=2008-06-25}}
</ref> He is the only Senate member of the [[Congressional Black Caucus]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Member Info |url=http://www.house.gov/kilpatrick/cbc/member_info.html |publisher=Congressional Black Caucus |accessdate=2008-06-25}} See also: {{cite news |first=Jeff |last=Zeleny |title=When It Comes to Race, Obama Makes His Point—With Subtlety |date=2005-06-26 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-050626obama-race,1,7205709.story |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080216014942/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-050626obama-race,1,7205709.story |archivedate=2008-02-16 |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=2008-06-25}}
</ref> ''[[Congressional Quarterly|CQ Weekly]]'', a nonpartisan publication, characterized him as a "loyal Democrat" based on analysis of all Senate votes in 2005–2007, and the ''[[National Journal]]'' ranked him as the "most liberal" senator based on an assessment of selected votes during 2007. In 2005 he was ranked sixteenth, and in 2006 he was ranked tenth.<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Nather |title=The Space Between Clinton and Obama |date=2008-01-14 |url=http://public.cq.com/docs/cqw/weeklyreport110-000002654703.html |work=CQ Weekly |accessdate=2008-06-25}} See also: {{cite news |first=Tom |last=Curry |title=What Obama's Senate Votes Reveal |date=2008-02-21 |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23276453/ |work=MSNBC |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/|title=Obama: Most Liberal Senator In 2007 |work=National Journal |date=2008-01-31|accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> In 2008, he was ranked by Congress.org as the eleventh most powerful Senator.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.congress.org/congressorg/power_rankings/overall.tt |title=Power Rankings: Senate |author=KnowLegis |accessdate=2008-09-07}}</ref>

===Legislation===
{{seealso|List of bills sponsored by Barack Obama in the United States Senate}}
[[Image:Coburn and Obama discuss S. 2590.jpg|thumb|right|Senate bill sponsors Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Obama discussing the Coburn–Obama Transparency Act.<ref>{{cite web |title=President Bush Signs Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. |date=2006-09-26 |url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060926.html|publisher=White House|2008-04-27}}</ref>]]

Obama voted in favor of the [[Energy Policy Act of 2005]] and cosponsored the [[Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act]].<ref>{{cite web |first=109th Congress, 1st Session |last=U.S. Senate |title=S. 1033, Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act |date=2005-05-12 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN01033: |publisher=Thomas |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref> In September 2006, Obama supported a related bill, the [[Secure Fence Act of 2006|Secure Fence Act]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Latinos Upset Obama Voted for Border Fence |date=2006-11-20 |url=http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_324192245.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070927231949/http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_324192245.html |archivedate=2007-09-27 |work=CBS 2 (Chicago) |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref> Obama introduced two initiatives bearing his name: Lugar–Obama, which expanded the [[Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction|Nunn–Lugar cooperative threat reduction]] concept to conventional weapons,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/070111-lugar-obama_non/ |title=Lugar–Obama Nonproliferation Legislation Signed into Law by the President |date=2007-01-11 |publisher=Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=2008-04-27}} See also: {{cite news |first=Richard G |last=Lugar |coauthors=Barack Obama |title=Junkyard Dogs of War |date=2005-12-03 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/02/AR2005120201509.html |work=Washington Post |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref> and the [[Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006|Coburn–Obama Transparency Act]], which authorized the establishment of USAspending.gov, a web search engine on federal spending.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=McCormack |title=Google Government Gone Viral |date=2007-12-21 |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/502njiqx.asp |work=Weekly Standard |accessdate=2008-04-27}} See also: {{cite web |title=President Bush Signs Coburn–Obama Transparency Act |date=2006-09-26 |url=http://coburn.senate.gov/ffm/index.cfm?FuseAction=LegislativeFloorAction.Home&ContentRecord_id=eb582f19-802a-23ad-41db-7a7cb464cfdb |publisher=Tom Coburn U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=2008-04-27}} and [http://www.USAspending.gov USAspending.gov]</ref> On June 3, 2008, Senator Obama, along with Senators [[Thomas R. Carper]], [[Tom Coburn]], and [[John McCain]], introduced follow-up legislation: Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-3077 S. 3077: Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008] ''Govtrack.us'', 2007-2008 (110th Congress)</ref>

Obama sponsored legislation that would have required nuclear plant owners to notify state and local authorities of radioactive leaks, but the bill failed to pass in the full Senate after being heavily modified in committee.<ref>{{cite news |last=McIntire |first=Mike |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/us/politics/03exelon.html |title=Nuclear Leaks and Response Tested Obama in Senate |date=2008-02-03
|work=The New York Times |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref> In December 2006, President Bush signed into law the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act, marking the first federal legislation to be enacted with Obama as its primary sponsor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Democratic Republic of the Congo |month=April |year=2006 |url=http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/drc0406.shtml |publisher=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops |accessdate=2008-04-27}} {{cite web |title=The IRC Welcomes New U.S. Law on Congo |date=2007-01-05 |url=http://www.theirc.org/news/the-irc-welcomes-new-us-law.html |publisher=International Rescue Committee |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref> In January 2007, Obama and Senator Feingold introduced a corporate jet provision to the [[Honest Leadership and Open Government Act]], which was signed into law in September 2007.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nathaniel |last=Weixel |title=Feingold, Obama Go After Corporate Jet Travel |date=2007-11-15 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/feingold-obama-go-after-corporate-jet-travel-2007-11-15.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=2008-04-27}} {{cite news |first=Nathaniel |last=Weixel |title=Lawmakers Press FEC on Bundling Regulation |date=2007-12-05 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/lawmakers-press-fec-on-bundling-regulation-2007-12-05.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=2008-04-27}} See also: {{cite news |title=Federal Election Commission Announces Plans to Issue New Regulations to Implement the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 |date=2007-09-24 |publisher=Federal Election Commission |url=http://www.fec.gov/press/press2007/20070924travel.shtml |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref> Obama also introduced [[Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act]], a bill to criminalize deceptive practices in federal elections<ref>{{cite news |first=Seth |last=Stern |title=Obama–Schumer Bill Proposal Would Criminalize Voter Intimidation |date=2007-01-31 |publisher=The New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/01/31/cq_2213.html |work=CQPolitics.com |accessdate=2008-04-27}} {{cite web |first=110th Congress, 1st Session |last=U.S. Senate |title=S. 453, Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007 |date=2007-01-31 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN00453: |publisher=Thomas |accessdate=2008-04-27}} See also: {{cite news |title=Honesty in Elections |date=2007-01-31 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/opinion/31wed1.html |work=The New York Times |format=editorial |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref> and the [[Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007]],<ref>{{cite news |first=E. Kasak |last=Krystin |title=Obama Introduces Measure to Bring Troops Home |date=2007-02-07 |publisher=The Times (Munster, Indiana) |url=http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/02/07/news/illiana/doc65cc98d8dc6506b28625727b0011edb5.txt |work=Medill News Service |accessdate=2008-04-27}} "Latest Major Action: 1/30/2007 Referred to Senate committee." {{cite web |first=110th Congress, 1st Session |last=U.S. Senate |title=S. 433, Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007 |date=2007-01-30 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN00433: |publisher=Thomas |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref> neither of which have been signed into law.

[[Image:Lugar-Obama.jpg|left|thumb|Obama and [[Richard Lugar]] visit a Russian mobile launch missile dismantling facility.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nunn–Lugar Report |month=August |year=2005 |publisher=Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office|url=http://lugar.senate.gov/nunnlugar/pdf/trip_report_2005.pdf|accessdate=2008-04-30|format=PDF}}</ref>]]

Later in 2007, Obama sponsored an amendment to the Defense Authorization Act adding safeguards for personality disorder military discharges.<ref>{{cite web |title=Obama, Bond Hail New Safeguards on Military Personality Disorder Discharges, Urge Further Action |date=2007-10-01 |url=http://bond.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=5C1EBFEB-1321-0E36-BA7D-04630AEFAD31 |publisher=Kit Bond U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=2008-04-27}} See also: {{cite news |first=Philip |last=Dine |title=Bond Calls for Review of Military Discharges |date=2007-12-23 |url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/special/srlinks.nsf/story/2E7CC823AD55667B862573A7007D12A2?OpenDocument |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref> This amendment passed the full Senate in the spring of 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Obama, Bond Applaud Senate Passage of Amendment to Expedite the Review of Personality Disorder Discharge Cases |url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/080314-obama_bond_appl/}}</ref> He sponsored the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran's oil and gas industry, which has not passed committee, and co-sponsored legislation to reduce risks of nuclear terrorism.<ref>{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Graham-Silverman |title=Despite Flurry of Action in House, Congress Unlikely to Act Against Iran |date=2007-09-12 |url=http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002583189.html |work=CQ Today |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref><ref name=ObamaSchiff>{{cite web |title=Obama, Schiff Provision to Create Nuclear Threat Reduction Plan Approved |date=2007-12-20 |url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/071220-obama_schiff_pr/ |publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref> Obama also sponsored a Senate amendment to the [[State Children's Health Insurance Program]] providing one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Senate Passes Obama, McCaskill Legislation to Provide Safety Net for Families of Wounded Service Members |date=2007-08-02 |url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/070802-senate_passes_o_1/ |publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref>

===Committees===
Obama held assignments on the Senate Committees for [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Foreign Relations]], [[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Environment and Public Works]] and [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Veterans' Affairs]] through December 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20061209190827/obama.senate.gov/committees/ |format=archive |date=2006-12-09 |title=Committee Assignments |accessdate=2008-04-27 |publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office}}</ref> In January 2007, he left the Environment and Public Works committee and took additional assignments with [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions|Health, Education, Labor and Pensions]] and [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Obama Gets New Committee Assignments |date=2006-11-15 |publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |url=http://obama.senate.gov/news/061115-obama_gets_new/ |work=Associated Press |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref> He also became Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs|European Affairs]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Baldwin |title=Stay-At-Home Barack Obama Comes Under Fire for a Lack of Foreign Experience |date=2007-12-21 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article3080794.ece |work=Sunday Times (UK) |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref> As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. He met with [[Mahmoud Abbas]] before he became President of [[Palestine]], and gave a speech at the [[University of Nairobi]] condemning corruption in the Kenyan government.<ref>{{cite news |first=Christina |last=Larson |title=Hoosier Daddy: What Rising Democratic Star Barack Obama Can Learn from an Old Lion of the GOP |date=September 2006 |url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2006/0609.larson.html |work=Washington Monthly |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Chuck |last=Goudie |title=Obama Meets with Arafat's Successor |date=2006-01-12 |url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=3806933 |work=WLS-TV |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Obama Slates Kenya for Fraud |date=2006-08-28 |url=http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1989646,00.html |work=News24.com |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Wamalwa |title=Envoy Hits at Obama Over Graft Remark |date=2006-09-02 |url=http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143957666 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071010050740/http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143957666 |archivedate=2007-10-10 |work=The Standard (Nairobi) |accessdate=2008-04-27}} {{cite news |first=Vincent |last=Moracha |coauthors=Mangoa Mosota |title=Leaders Support Obama on Graft Claims |date=2006-09-04 |url=http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143957752 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071007115436/http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143957752 |archivedate=2007-10-07 |work=The Standard (Nairobi) |accessdate=2008-04-27}}</ref>{{clear}}

==2008 presidential campaign==
{{main|Barack Obama presidential primary campaign, 2008|Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008}}

{{wikinews|Barack Obama elected 44th President of the United States}}

On February 10, 2007, Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States in front of the [[Old State Capitol State Historic Site|Old State Capitol]] building in [[Springfield, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-070210obama-pearson1-story,0,3768114.story |title=Obama: I'm running for president |work=Chicago Tribune |author=Pearson, Rick |coauthors=Long, Ray |date=2007-02-10 |accessdate=2008-09-20}}</ref><ref name=BBC20070210>{{cite news |title=Obama Launches Presidential Bid |date=2007-02-10 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6349081.stm |work=BBC News |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> The choice of the announcement site was symbolic because it was also where [[Abraham Lincoln]] delivered his historic [[Lincoln's House Divided Speech|"House Divided"]] speech in 1858.<ref>{{cite news |title=Presidential Campaign Announcement |format=video |date=2007-02-10 |publisher=Brightcove.TV |url=http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=494649996&channel=353512430 |work=Obama for America |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Throughout the campaign, Obama has emphasized the issues of rapidly ending the [[Iraq War]], increasing [[Energy policy of the United States|energy independence]], and providing [[Universal health care#United States|universal health care]], at one point identifying these as his top three priorities.<ref>{{cite news |title=Barack Obama on the Issues: What Would Be Your Top Three Overall Priorities If Elected? |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/barack-obama/#top-priorities |work=Washington Post |accessdate=2008-04-14}} See also: {{cite news |first=Michael |last=Falcone |title=Obama's 'One Thing' |date=2007-12-21 |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/obamas-one-thing/ |work=The New York Times |accessdate=2008-04-14}}
</ref>

[[Image:Flickr Obama Springfield 01.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Obama on stage with his wife and two daughters just before announcing his presidential campaign in Springfield, Illinois.]]

Obama's campaign raised $58 million during the first half of 2007, of which donations of less than $200, classified as "small donations" by campaign laws, accounted for $16.4 million. The $58 million set the record for fundraising by a presidential campaign in the first six months of the calendar year before the election.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Malone |title=Obama Fundraising Suggests Close Race for Party Nomination |date=2007-07-02 |url=http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-07/2007-07-02-voa52.cfm?CFID=62046237&CFTOKEN=65376399 |work=Voice of America |accessdate=2008-01-14}}
</ref> The magnitude of the small donation portion was outstanding from both the absolute and relative perspectives.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jeanne |last=Cummings |title=Small Donors Rewrite Fundraising Handbook |date=2007-09-26 |url=http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=3ECB3515-3048-5C12-004D622CB6F4E214 |work=Politico |accessdate=2008-01-14}}
</ref> In January 2008, his campaign set another [[fundraising]] record with $36.8 million, the most ever raised in one month by a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries.<ref>{{cite news |first=Emily |last=Cadei |title=Obama Outshines Other Candidates in January Fundraising |date=2008-02-21 |url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002674309 |work=CQ Politics |accessdate=2008-02-24}}
</ref>

Among the January 2008 [[Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008#January|DNC-sanctioned state contests]], Obama tied with [[Hillary Rodham Clinton|Hillary Clinton]] for delegates in the [[New Hampshire Democratic primary, 2008|New Hampshire]] primary and won more delegates than Clinton in the [[Iowa Democratic caucuses, 2008|Iowa]], [[Nevada Democratic caucuses, 2008|Nevada]] and [[South Carolina Democratic primary, 2008|South Carolina]] elections and caucuses. On [[Super Tuesday, 2008|Super Tuesday]], he emerged with 20 more delegates than Clinton.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/democratic_delegate_count.html |title=2008 Democratic Delegates |work=RealClearPolitics |accessdate=2008-03-25}}</ref> He again broke fundraising records in the first two months of 2008, raising over $90 million for his primary to Clinton's $45 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2008/mar/07/nation/na-money7 |title=Obama sets fundraising record with $55 million |work=Los Angeles Times |author=Dan Morain |date=2008-03-07 |accessdate=2008-03-18}}
</ref> After Super Tuesday, Obama won the eleven remaining February primaries and caucuses.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/make-that-11-for-obama/ |title=Make That 11 for Obama |author=Brian Knowlton |work=The New York Times |date=2008-02-21 |accessdate=2008-03-18}}
</ref> Obama and Clinton split delegates and states nearly equally in the March 4 contests of [[Vermont Democratic primary, 2008|Vermont]], [[Texas Democratic primary and caucuses, 2008|Texas]], [[Ohio Democratic primary, 2008|Ohio]], and [[Rhode Island Democratic primary, 2008|Rhode Island]]; Obama closed the month by winning Wyoming and [[Mississippi Democratic primary, 2008|Mississippi]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/dates/index.html#val=20080304 |title=Results: March 4 - Multi-State Events |publisher=CNN |date=2008-03-04 |accessdate=2008-03-04}}
</ref>

In March 2008, [[Jeremiah Wright controversy|a controversy broke out]] concerning Obama's former pastor of twenty years, [[Jeremiah Wright]],<ref name="Obama's Pastor">{{cite news |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=4443788 |title=Obama's Pastor: God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11 |author=Brian Ross |coauthors=Rehab el-Buri|publisher=''[[ABC News]]'' |date=2008-03-13 |accessdate=2008-03-17}} See also: {{cite news |url=http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/03/for-the-record.html |title=For The Record |work=The Daily Dish |publisher=''The Atlantic'' |date=2008-03-16 |accessdate=2008-03-18 |last=Sullivan |first=Andrew}}</ref> after ABC News broadcast [[Media clip|clips]] of his racially and politically charged sermons.<ref name="Obama's Pastor" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/03/14/obamas-spiritual-adviser-questioned-us-role-in-spread-of-hiv-sept-11-attacks/ |title=Obama's Pastor's Sermon: 'God Damn America' |publisher=FOXNews |author=Jeff Goldblatt |date=2008-03-14 |accessdate=2008-04-04}}</ref> Initially, Obama responded by defending Wright's wider role in Chicago's African-American community,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Politics/Story?id=4536957&page=1 |title=Obama Defends Wright on ABC's 'The View'|publisher=[[ABC News]]|author=Miller, Sunlen |date=2008-03-27 |accessdate=2008-09-20}}</ref> but condemned his remarks and ended Wright's relationship with the campaign.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23634881/ |title=Controversial minister leaves Obama campaign |publisher=[[MSNBC]]|date=2008-03-14|accessdate=2008-04-28|first=Alex|last=Johnson}}</ref> During the controversy, Obama delivered a speech entitled "[[A More Perfect Union (speech)|A More Perfect Union]]"<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0319/p25s01-uspo.html |title=Remarks by Barack Obama: 'A More Perfect Union' |author=Barack Obama |work=The Christian Science Monitor |date=2008-03-18 |accessdate=2008-03-18}}</ref> that addressed issues of race. Obama subsequently resigned from [[Trinity United Church of Christ]] "to avoid the impression that he endorsed the entire range of opinions expressed at that church."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/31/obama-resigns-from-controversial-church/ |title=Obama resigns from controversial church |publisher=CNN |accessdate=2008-05-31 |date=2008-05-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/31/obama.church/
|title=Obama quits church, citing controversies
|publisher=CNN
|accessdate=2008-07-24
|date=2008-05-31
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24908975/ |title=Obama quits church after long controversy |publisher=MSNBC |accessdate=2008-06-05 |date=2008-06-01}}</ref>

[[Image:Obama Petraeus Hagel.jpg|thumb|General [[David Petraeus]] gives an aerial tour of Baghdad to Barack Obama and [[Chuck Hagel]].]]

During April, May, and June, Obama won the [[North Carolina Democratic primary, 2008|North Carolina]], [[Oregon Democratic primary, 2008|Oregon]], and [[Montana Democratic primary, 2008|Montana primaries]] and remained ahead in the count of pledged delegates, while Clinton won the [[Pennsylvania Democratic primary, 2008|Pennsylvania]], [[Indiana Democratic primary, 2008|Indiana]], [[West Virginia Democratic primary, 2008|West Virginia]], [[Kentucky Democratic primary, 2008|Kentucky]], [[Puerto Rico Democratic primary, 2008|Puerto Rico]], and [[South Dakota Democratic primary, 2008|South Dakota primaries]]. During the period, Obama received endorsements from more [[superdelegate]]s than did Clinton.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24583678/ |title=Superdelegates put Obama within reach |publisher=MSNBC.com |work=The Associated Press |date=2008-05-12 |accessdate=2008-05-13}}</ref> On May 31, the [[Democratic National Committee]] agreed to seat all of the [[Michigan]] and [[Florida]] delegates at the national convention, each with a half-vote, narrowing Obama's delegate lead while increasing the delegate count needed to win.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://freeinternetpress.com/story.php?sid=16916/ |title=Clinton Wins Puerto Rico Primary |publisher=Free Internet Press |work=The Associated Press |date=2008-06-01 |accessdate=2008-06-01}}</ref> On June 3, with all states counted, Obama passed the threshold to become the [[presumptive nominee]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/03/election.democrats/index.html |title=Obama: I will be the Democratic nominee |publisher=CNN.com |date=2008-06-04|accessdate=2008-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23809081-23109,00.html |title=Obama clinches nomination |publisher=Herald Sun (Australia) |date=2008-06-04|accessdate=2008-06-06 |author=John Whitesides in Washington}}</ref> On that day, he gave a victory speech in St. Paul, Minnesota. Clinton suspended her campaign and endorsed him on June 7.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jeff and Michael Luo |last=Zeleny |title=Obama Clinches Nomination |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/us/politics/04cnd-campaign.html |work=The New York Times |date=2008-06-04 |accessdate=2008-06-04}}</ref> From that point on, he campaigned for the general election race against Senator [[John McCain]], the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee.

On June 19, Obama became the first major-party presidential candidate to turn down [[Campaign finance in the United States#Public financing of campaigns|public financing]] in the general election since the system was created in 1976, reversing his earlier intention to accept it.<ref>{{cite news |author=Salant, Jonathan D. |title=Obama Won't Accept Public Money in Election Campaign |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aNi.G0PhWnFw&refer=home |publisher=[[Bloomberg]] |date=2008-06-19 |accessdate=2008-06-19}}</ref>

On August 23, 2008, Obama selected [[Delaware]] Senator [[Joe Biden]] as his vice presidential running mate.<ref>{{cite news|author=Lis Sidoti and Nedra Pickler|title=Obama picks Biden for veep|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/08/29/politics/p050941D34.DTL |work=San Francisco Chronicle |author=Sidoti, Liz |coauthors=Fouhy, Beth (Associated Press)|date=2008-08-22 |accessdate=2008-09-20}}</ref> At the [[2008 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]] in [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]], [[Colorado]], Obama's former rival Hillary Clinton gave a speech strongly supporting Obama's candidacy and later called for Obama to be nominated by [[acclamation]] as the Democratic presidential candidate.<ref>{{cite news |author=Tom Baldwin |title=Hillary Clinton: 'Barack is my candidate' |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4616719.ece |work=TimesOnline |date=2008-08-27 |accessdate=2008-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28DEMSDAY.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&em |title=Obama Wins Hard-Fought Nomination as Biden and Bill Clinton Rally the Party |publisher=The New York Times |author=Nagourney, Adam |date=2008-08-27|accessdate=2008-08-27}}</ref> Then, on August 28, Obama delivered a speech to the 84,000 supporters in Denver. During the speech, which was viewed by over 38 million people worldwide, he accepted his party's nomination and presented his policy goals.<ref>{{cite news |title=Obama accepts Democrat nomination |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7586375.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |publisher=BBC |date=2008-08-29 |accessdate=2008-08-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/08/29/soaring-speech-from-obama-plus-some-specifics/ |title=Soaring speech from Obama, plus some specifics |work=The Christian Science Monitor |author=Marks, Alexandra |date=2008-08-29 |accessdate=2008-09-20}}</ref>
[[Image:Obama at Grant Park.jpg|thumb|left|Obama delivering his victory speech at [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]]]]
After McCain was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate, polls indicated that he had closed the gap with Obama. There were three [[United States presidential election debates|presidential debates]] between Obama and McCain in September and October 2008.<ref>[http://www.debates.org/pages/news_111907.html Commission on Presidential Debates Announces Sites, Dates, Formats and Candidate Selection Criteria for 2008 General Election], [[Commission on Presidential Debates]], 2007-11-19. Retrieved 2008-07-06.</ref><ref>"[http://www.courant.com/topic/ Gun Ruling Reverberates]," ''[[The Hartford Courant]]'', 2008-06-27. Retrieved 2008-07-06.</ref>

After the debates, Obama pulled ahead in national polls. On November 2, 2008, Obama's grandmother, [[Madelyn and Stanley Dunham|Madelyn Dunham]], died from cancer at the age of 86. Obama learned of his grandmother's death on November 3, one day before the election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Obama's grandmother dies after battle with cancer |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/obama.grandma/index.html |work=CNN |date=November 3, 2008 |accessmonthday=November 4 |accessyear=2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/election.president/index.html| title=McCain pledges to help Obama lead| publisher=CNN| date=2008-11-04| accessdate=2008-11-04}}</ref>

On November 4, 2008, Barack Obama defeated [[John McCain]] and became the first [[African American]] to be elected President of the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7709978.stm |title=BBC NEWS &#124; World &#124; Americas &#124; US Elections 2008 &#124; Obama wins historic US election |publisher=News.bbc.co.uk |date=Page last updated at 06:09 GMT, Wednesday, 5 November 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-05}}</ref><ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-assess5-2008nov05,0,6354926.story White Americans play major role in electing the first black president], Los Angeles Times, November 5, 2008</ref> In his [[Barack Obama presidential acceptance speech, 2008|victory speech]], delivered before a crowd of hundreds of thousands of his supporters in Chicago, Obama proclaimed that "change has come to America."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/change-has-come-says-presidentelect-obama-992930.html |title=Change has come, says President-elect Obama - Americas, World - The Independent |publisher=Independent.co.uk |author=Rural Notebook |date= |accessdate=2008-11-05}}</ref>

==Political positions==
{{Main|Political positions of Barack Obama}}
[[Image:ObamaAbingtonPA.JPG|right|thumb|Obama campaigning in Pennsylvania, October 2008.]]

Obama was an early opponent of the Bush administration's [[2003 invasion of Iraq|policies on Iraq]].<!--
--><ref>{{cite news |author=Strausberg, Chinta |date=2002-09-26 |work=[[Chicago Defender]] |page=1 |title=Opposition to war mounts |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-220062931.html |format=paid archive |accessdate=2008-02-03}}</ref> On October 2, 2002, the day President [[George W. Bush]] and [[United States Congress|Congress]] agreed on the [[Iraq Resolution|joint resolution]] authorizing the Iraq War,<!--
--><ref>{{cite web |author=[[White House Press Secretary|Office of the Press Secretary]] |date=2002-10-02 |title=President, House Leadership Agree on Iraq Resolution |publisher=[[Executive Office of the President of the United States|The White House]] |url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021002-7.html |accessdate=2008-02-17}} {{cite news |author=Tackett, Michael |date=2002-10-03 |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 |title=Bush, House OK Iraq deal; Congress marches with Bush |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/203569641.html?dids=203569641:203569641&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |format=paid archive |accessdate=2008-02-03}}</ref> Obama addressed the first high-profile Chicago [[Protests against the Iraq War|anti-Iraq War rally]] in [[Kluczynski Federal Building|Federal Plaza]],<!--
--><ref>{{cite news |author=Glauber, Bill |date=2003-10-03|work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 |title=War protesters gentler, but passion still burns |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/203569621.html?dids=203569621:203569621&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |format=paid archive |accessdate=2008-02-03}} {{cite news |author=Strausberg, Chinta |date=2002-10-03 |work=Chicago Defender |page=1 |title=War with Iraq undermines U.N. |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-220379051.html |quote=Photo caption: Left Photo: Sen. Barack Obama along with Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke to nearly 3,000 anti-war protestors (below) during a rally at Federal Plaza Wednesday. |accessdate=2008-10-28}} {{cite news |author=Bryant, Greg |date=2002-10-02 |publisher=[[Medill School of Journalism#Medill News Service - Chicago|Medill News Service]] |title=300 protesters rally to oppose war with Iraq |url=http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:joI6vZO9y4UJ:mesh.medill.northwestern.edu/mnschicago/archives/2002/10/300_protesters.html |accessdate=2008-02-03}} {{cite web |author=Katz, Marilyn |date=2007-10-02 |title=Five Years Since Our First Action |publisher=Chicagoans Against War & Injustice |url=http://www.noiraqwar-chicago.org/?p=127 |accessdate=2008-02-17}} {{cite news | title=300 attend rally against Iraq war |author=Bryant, Greg; Vaughn, Jane B. |work=Daily Herald (Arlington Heights) |page=8 |format=paid archive |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ADHB&p_theme=adhb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=300%20AND%20attend%20AND%20rally%20AND%20against%20AND%20Iraq%20AND%20war&s_dispstring=300%20attend%20rally%20against%20Iraq%20war%20AND%20date(10/3/2002%20to%2010/3/2002)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=10/3/2002%20to%2010/3/2002)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no |date=2002-10-03 |accessdate=2008-10-28}} Mendell (2007), pp. 172–177.</ref> speaking out against the war.<!--
--><ref>{{cite news |author=Obama, Barack |date=2002-10-02 |title=Remarks of Illinois State Sen. Barack Obama Against Going to War with Iraq |url=http://www.barackobama.com/2002/10/02/remarks_of_illinois_state_sen.php |publisher=BarackObama.com |accessdate=2008-02-03}}</ref><!--
--><ref>{{cite news |author=McCormick, John |date=2007-10-03 |work=Chicago Tribune |page=7 |title=Obama marks '02 war speech; Contender highlights his early opposition in effort to distinguish him from his rivals |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/1351610621.html?dids=1351610621:1351610621&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |format=paid archive |quote=The top strategist for Sen. Barack Obama has just 14 seconds of video of what is one of the most pivotal moments of the presidential candidate's political career. The video, obtained from a Chicago TV station, is of Obama's 2002 speech in opposition to the impending Iraq invasion. |accessdate=2008-10-28}} {{cite news |author=Pallasch, Abdon M. |date=2007-10-03 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |page=26 |title=Obama touts anti-war cred; Kicks off tour 5 years after speech critical of going to Iraq |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=headline(Obama%20touts%20anti-war%20cred)%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=title&p_text_advanced-0=(Obama%20touts%20anti-war%20cred)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no |format=paid archive |accessdate=2008-10-28}}</ref> On March 16, 2003, the day President Bush issued his 48-hour [[ultimatum]] to [[Saddam Hussein]] to leave Iraq before the U.S. [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]],<!--
--><ref>{{cite web |author=Office of the Press Secretary |date=2003-03-16 |title=President Bush: Monday "Moment of Truth" for World on Iraq |publisher=The White House |url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030316-3.html |accessdate=2008-02-17}} {{cite news |author=Associated Press |date=2003-03-17 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |page=1 |title='Moment of truth for the world'; Bush, three allies set today as final day for Iraq to disarm or face massive military attack |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=headline(Moment%20of%20truth%20for%20the%20world)%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=title&p_text_advanced-0=(Moment%20of%20truth%20for%20the%20world)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no |format=paid archive |accessdate=2008-02-03}}</ref> Obama addressed the largest Chicago anti-Iraq War rally to date in [[Richard J. Daley Center|Daley Plaza]] and told the crowd that "it's not too late" to stop the war.<!--
--><ref>{{cite news |author=Ritter, Jim |date=2003-03-17 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |page=3 |title=Anti-war rally here draws thousands |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=headline(Anti-war%20rally%20here%20draws%20thousands)%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=title&p_text_advanced-0=(Anti-war%20rally%20here%20draws%20thousands)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no |format=paid archive |accessdate=2008-02-03}}</ref>

Obama stated that if elected he would enact budget cuts in the range of tens of billions of dollars, stop investing in "unproven" [[National missile defense|missile defense systems]], not "weaponize" space, "slow development of [[Future Combat Systems]]," and work towards eliminating all [[Nuclear warfare|nuclear weapons]]. Obama favors ending development of new nuclear weapons, reducing the current U.S. nuclear stockpile, enacting a global ban on production of fissile material, and seeking negotiations with Russia in order to take [[Intercontinental ballistic missile|ICBMs]] off high alert status.<ref>{{cite video |people=Barack Obama |date2=2007-10-22 |title=Obama-Caucus4Priorities |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o84PE871BE |format=flv |publisher=Obama '08 |accessdate=2008-05-18}}</ref>

In November 2006, Obama called for a "phased redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq" and an opening of diplomatic dialogue with [[Syria]] and [[Iran]].<ref>For audio and text, see: {{cite web |first=Barack |last=Obama |title=A Way Forward in Iraq |date=2006-11-20 |url=http://www.thechicagocouncil.org/hottopics_details.php?hottopics_id=52 |publisher=Chicago Council on Global Affairs |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> In a March 2007 speech to [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee|AIPAC]], a [[Israel lobby in the United States|pro-Israel lobby]], he said that the primary way to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons is through talks and diplomacy, although he did not rule out military action.<ref>{{cite web |first=Barack |last=Obama |title=AIPAC Policy Forum Remarks |date=2007-03-02 |url=http://obama.senate.gov/speech/070302-aipac_policy_fo/index.php |publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=2008-01-30}} For Obama's 2004 Senate campaign remarks on possible missile strikes against Iran, see: {{cite news |last=Mendell |first=David |title=Obama Would Consider Missile Strikes on Iran |format=paid archive |date=2004-09-25 |publisher=''Chicago Tribune'' |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/699578571.html?dids=699578571:699578571&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Obama has indicated that he would engage in "direct presidential diplomacy" with Iran without preconditions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://origin.barackobama.com/issues/foreign_policy/ |title=Barack Obama and Joe Biden's Plan to Secure America and Restore Our Standing |publisher=Obama for America|accessdate=2008-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/us/politics/01cnd-obama.html?_r=2&ei=5088&en=6e53bced62b78a88&ex=1351656000&oref=slogin&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin |title=Obama Pledges 'Aggressive' Iran Diplomacy |author=Gordon, Michael R. and Zeleny, Jeff |work=The New York Times|date=2007-11-02|accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/us/politics/24transcript.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all|title=Transcript of fourth Democratic debate |work=The New York Times |date=2007-07-24 |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> Detailing his strategy for fighting global terrorism in August 2007, Obama said "it was a terrible mistake to fail to act" against a 2005 meeting of al-Qaeda leaders that U.S. intelligence had confirmed to be taking place in Pakistan's [[Federally Administered Tribal Areas]]. He said that as president he would not miss a similar opportunity, even without the support of the Pakistani government.<ref>{{cite news |title=Obama Warns Pakistan on Al-Qaeda |date=2007-08-01 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6926663.stm |work=BBC News |accessdate=2008-01-14}} For video and text of the speech, see: {{cite news |title=Policy Address on Terrorism by The Honorable Barack Obama, United States Senator from Illinois |date=2007-08-01 |url=http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.event&event_id=269510 |work=Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars |accessdate=2008-01-30}} For details of the aborted 2005 military operation, see {{cite news |first=Mark |last=Mazzetti |title=Rumsfeld Called Off 2005 Plan to Capture Top Qaeda Figures |date=2007-07-08 |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/08/news/qaeda.php |work=International Herald Tribune |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>

In a December 2005, ''Washington Post'' opinion column, and at the [[Save Darfur Coalition|Save Darfur]] rally in April 2006, Obama called for more assertive action to oppose [[genocide]] in the [[War in Darfur|Darfur region]] of [[Sudan]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Barack |last=Obama |coauthors=Sam Brownback |title=Policy Adrift on Darfur |date=2005-12-27 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/26/AR2005122600547.html |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite news |first=Jim |last=Doyle |title=Tens of Thousands Rally for Darfur |date=2006-05-01 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/05/01/MNGFBIIFOA1.DTL |work=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> He has [[divestment|divested]] $180,000 in personal holdings of Sudan-related stock, and has urged divestment from companies doing business in Iran.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jim (Associated Press) |last=Kuhnhenn |title=Giuliani, Edwards Have Sudan Holdings |date=2007-05-17 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/05/17/politics/p171906D95.DTL |accessdate=2008-01-14}}; {{cite news |first=Barack |last=Obama |title=Hit Iran Where It Hurts |date=2007-08-30 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/08/30/2007-08-30_hit_iran_where_it_hurts.html |work=New York Daily News |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> In the July–August 2007 issue of ''[[Foreign Affairs]]'', Obama called for an outward looking post-Iraq War [[Foreign policy of the United States|foreign policy]] and the renewal of American military, diplomatic, and moral leadership in the world. Saying "we can neither retreat from the world nor try to bully it into submission," he called on Americans to "lead the world, by deed and by example."<ref>{{cite journal |first=Barack |last=Obama |title=Renewing American Leadership |date=July–August 2007 |volume=86 |issue=4 |url=http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20070701faessay86401/barack-obama/renewing-american-leadership.html |journal=Foreign Affairs |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>

In economic affairs, in April 2005, he defended the New Deal social welfare policies of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and opposed Republican proposals to establish private accounts for [[Social Security debate (United States)|Social Security]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Ben A |last=Franklin |title=The Fifth Black Senator in U.S. History Makes F.D.R. His Icon |date=2005-06-01 |url=http://www.washingtonspectator.com/articles/20050601obama_1.cfm |work=Washington Spectator |accessdate=2008-01-14 |}}</ref> In the aftermath of [[Hurricane Katrina]], Obama spoke out against government indifference to growing economic class divisions, calling on both political parties to take action to restore the [[social safety net]] for the poor.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jeff |last=Zeleny |title=Judicious Obama Turns Up Volume |date=2005-09-12 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0509120140sep12,0,5564730.story |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Shortly before announcing his presidential campaign, Obama said he supports [[universal healthcare]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nedra |last=Pickler |title=Obama Calls for Universal Health Care within Six Years |date=2007-01-25 |publisher=Associated Press via ''Union-Tribune'' (San Diego) |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20070125-1240-democrats-healthcare.html |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Obama proposes to reward teachers for performance from traditional [[merit pay]] systems, assuring unions that changes would be pursued through the [[collective bargaining]] process.<ref>{{cite news |first=Teddy |last=Davis |coauthors=Sunlen Miller |title=Obama Bucks Party Line on Education |date=2007-11-20 |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=3894699 |publisher=ABC News |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>

[[Image:ObamaSouthCarolina.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Obama speaking at a rally in [[Conway, South Carolina|Conway]], [[South Carolina]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Rally at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC | format=video | date=August 23, 2007 | url=http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1155183011&channel=353512430 | work=Obama for America | publisher=Brightcove.TV | accessdate=2008-02-17}}</ref>]]

In September 2007, he blamed [[interest group|special interests]] for distorting the [[taxation in the United States|U.S. tax code]].<ref>{{cite news |title=A Speech On the Economy, Opportunity and Tax Policy with Senator Barack Obama |date=2007-09-18 |url=http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/events/obama.cfm |publisher=Tax Policy Center |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> His plan would eliminate taxes for senior citizens with incomes of less than $50,000 a year, repeal income tax cuts for those making over $250,000 as well as the capital gains and dividends tax cut,<ref>{{citenews |title=Study:Bush tax cuts favor wealthy |date=2004-08-13 |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/16/politics/main636398.shtml |publisher=CBS |accessdate=2008-04-05}}</ref> close corporate tax loopholes, lift the income cap on Social Security taxes, restrict offshore [[tax haven]]s, and simplify filing of income tax returns by pre-filling wage and bank information already collected by the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Obama Tax Plan: $80 Billion in Cuts, Five-Minute Filings |date=2007-09-18 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/18/obama.taxplan/ |publisher=CNN |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Announcing his presidential campaign's energy plan in October 2007, Obama proposed a [[emissions trading|cap and trade]] auction system to restrict carbon emissions and a ten year program of investments in new energy sources to reduce [[Energy policy of the United States|U.S. dependence on imported oil]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Jeff |last=Zeleny |title=Obama Proposes Capping Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Making Polluters Pay |date=2007-10-09 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/us/politics/09obama.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Obama proposed that all pollution credits must be auctioned, with no [[grandfathering]] of credits for oil and gas companies, and the spending of the revenue obtained on energy development and economic transition costs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/ObamaBlueprintForChange.pdf|title=The Blueprint for Change: Barack Obama's plan for America|author=Barack Obama|publisher=Obama for America |accessdate=2008-04-20|format=PDF}}</ref>

Obama has encouraged Democrats to reach out to [[evangelicalism|evangelicals]] and other religious groups.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Lerner |title=U.S. Senator Barack Obama Critiques Democrats' Religiophobia |date=2006-07-03 |url=http://www.tikkun.org/rabbi_lerner/news_item.2006-07-02.3949597607 |work=Tikkun Magazine |accessdate=2008-01-14}} {{cite web|url=http://www.beliefnet.com/News/2006/07/Sen-Barack-Obama-Revisiting-His-Historic-Speech-On-Faith-And-Politics.aspx |title=Sen. Barack Obama: Call to Renewal Keynote Address |date=2006-06-28 |work=Beliefnet |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> In December 2006, he joined Sen. [[Sam Brownback]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Kansas|KS]]) at the "Global Summit on [[AIDS]] and the Church" organized by church leaders Kay and [[Rick Warren]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Manda |last=Gibson |title=At Global AIDS Summit, Churches Challenged to Take the Lead |date=2006-06-28 |url=http://www.purposedriven.com/en-US/HIVAIDSCommunity/StartingAMinistry/churches_challenged_to_take_the_lead.htm |work=PurposeDriven.com |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Together with Warren and Brownback, Obama took an HIV test, as he had done in Kenya less than four months earlier.<ref>{{cite news |title=Screaming Crowds Welcome U.S. Senator 'Home' |date=2006-08-27 |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/08/26/kenya.obama/index.html |publisher=CNN |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> He encouraged "others in public life to do the same" and not be ashamed of it.<ref>{{cite news |first=Barack |last=Obama |title=Race Against Time—World AIDS Day Speech |date=2006-12-01 |url=http://obama.senate.gov/speech/061201-race_against_time_-_world_aids_day_speech/index.html |work=Obama U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref> Addressing over 8,000 [[United Church of Christ]] members in June 2007, Obama challenged "so-called leaders of the Christian Right" for being "all too eager to exploit what divides us."<ref>{{cite news |title=Barack Obama: Faith Has Been 'Hijacked' |date=2007-06-24 |publisher=Associated Press via CBS News |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/24/politics/main2971556.shtml |accessdate=2008-01-14 |}} See also: {{cite news |first=David |last=Brody |title=Obama to CBN News: We're No Longer Just a Christian Nation |date=2007-07-30 |url=http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/204016.aspx |work=Christian Broadcasting Network |accessdate=2008-01-14}}</ref>

A method that some political scientists use for gauging ideology is to compare the annual ratings by the Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) with the ratings by the American Conservative Union (ACU).<ref>{{cite news |author=Mayer, William |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A28761-2004Mar27?language=printer |title=Kerry's Record Rings a Bell |work=Washington Post |date=2004-03-28 |quote=The question of how to measure a senator's or representative's ideology is one that political scientists regularly need to answer. For more than 30 years, the standard method for gauging ideology has been to use the annual ratings of lawmakers' votes by various interest groups, notably the [[Americans for Democratic Action]] (ADA) and the [[American Conservative Union]] (ACU). |accessdate=2008-06-07}}</ref> Based on his years in Congress, Obama has a lifetime average conservative rating of 7.67% from the ACU,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acuratings.org/2005senate.htm |title=2005 U.S. Senate Votes |publisher=American Conservative Union |accessdate=2008-09-20}}; {{cite web |url=http://www.acuratings.org/2006senate.htm |title=2006 U.S. Senate Votes |publisher=American Conservative Union |accessdate=2008-09-20}}; {{cite web |url=http://www.acuratings.org/2007senate.htm |title=2007 U.S. Senate Votes |publisher=American Conservative Union |accessdate=2008-09-20}}</ref> and a lifetime average liberal rating of 90 percent from the ADA.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2005.pdf |title=ADA's 2005 Congressional Voting Record |publisher=Americans for Democratic Action |accessdate=2008-09-20}}; {{cite web |url=http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2006.pdf |title=ADA's 2006 Congressional Voting Record |publisher=Americans for Democratic Action |accessdate=2008-09-20}}; {{cite web |url=http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2007.pdf |title=ADA's 2007 Congressional Voting Record |publisher=Americans for Democratic Action |accessdate=2008-09-20}}</ref>

==Family and personal life==
{{main|Family of Barack Obama}}
[[Image:Barack and michelle .jpg|thumb|right|Barack Obama and his wife [[Michelle Obama]].]]

Obama was known as "Barry" in his youth, but asked to be addressed with his given name during his college years.<ref>{{cite news |title=When Barry Became Barack |date=2008-03-31 |work=Newsweek |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/128633 |accessdate=2008-11-06}}</ref>

Obama met his wife, [[Michelle Obama|Michelle Robinson]], in June 1989 when he was employed as a summer associate at the Chicago law firm of [[Sidley Austin]].<ref>Obama (2006), pp. 327–332. See also: {{cite news |first=Sarah |last=Brown |title=Obama '85 Masters Balancing Act |date=2005-12-07 |work=Daily Princetonian |url=http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2005/12/07/news/14049.shtml |accessdate=2008-04-28}} {{cite news |first=Eric |last=Tucker |title=Family Ties: Brown Coach, Barack Obama |date=2007-03-01 |publisher=ABC News |url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=2916437 |work=Associated Press |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> Assigned for three months as Obama's adviser at the firm, Robinson joined him at group social functions, but declined his initial offers to date.<ref>Obama (2006), p. 329.</ref> They began dating later that summer, became engaged in 1991, and were married on October 3, 1992.<ref>{{cite news |first=Scott |last=Fornek |title=Michelle Obama: 'He Swept Me Off My Feet' |date=2007-10-03 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/585261,CST-NWS-wedding03.stng |work=Chicago Sun-Times |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> The couple's first daughter, [[Family of Barack Obama#Malia Ann and Sasha Obama|Malia Ann]], was born in 1998,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0708/Born_on_the_4th_of_July.html |title=Born on the 4th of July |date=2008-07-04 |accessdate=2008-07-10 |publisher=[[The Politico]] |last=Martin |first=Jonathan}}</ref> followed by a second daughter, [[Family of Barack Obama#Malia Ann and Sasha Obama|Natasha ("Sasha")]], in 2001.<ref>Obama (1995), p. 440, and Obama (2006), pp. 339–340. See also: {{cite web |title=Election 2008 Information Center: Barack Obama |url=http://www.gannettnewsservice.com/?cat=153 |work=Gannett News Service |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref>

Applying the proceeds of a book deal,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-obama-rezkomar15,0,4474107,full.story|title=Obama: I trusted Rezko|date=2008-03-15}}</ref> in 2005 the family moved from a [[Hyde Park, Chicago|Hyde Park]], Chicago condominium to their current $1.6 million house in neighboring [[Kenwood, Chicago|Kenwood]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Jeff |last=Zeleny |title=The First Time Around: Sen. Obama's Freshman Year |date=2005-12-24 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-051224obama,0,6232648.story |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> The purchase of an adjacent lot and sale of part of it to Obama by the wife of developer and friend [[Tony Rezko]] attracted media attention because of Rezko's indictment and subsequent conviction on political corruption charges that were unrelated to Obama.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24973282/ |title=Rezko found guilty in corruption case |accessdate=2008-06-24 |date=2008-06-04 |work=The Associated Press |publisher=MSNBC.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/16/AR2006121600729.html |title=Obama Says He Regrets Land Deal With Fundraiser |work=The Washington Post |date=2006-12-17 |accessdate=2008-06-10|last=Slevin |first=Peter}}</ref>

In December 2007, ''[[Money (magazine)|Money]]'' magazine estimated the Obama family's net worth at $1.3 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Obama's Money |date=2007-12-07 |url=http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0712/gallery.candidates.moneymag/5.html |publisher=CNNMoney.com |accessdate=2008-04-28}} See also:
{{cite news |first=Zachary A |last=Goldfarb |title=Measuring Wealth of the '08 Candidates |date=2007-03-24 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/24/AR2007032400305.html |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> Their 2007 tax return showed a household income of $4.2 million—up from about $1 million in 2006 and $1.6 million in 2005—mostly from sales of his books.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jeff |last=Zeleny |title=Book Sales Lifted Obamas' Income in 2007 to a Total of $4.2 Million |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/us/politics/17obama.html |date=2008-04-17 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref>

[[Image:BarackObama-Basketball.JPEG|left|thumb|upright|Obama playing basketball with U.S. military in Djibouti in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |title=Senator Barack Obama Visit to CJTF-HOA and Camp Lemonier: August 31—September 1, 2006 |format=video |date=2007-02-06 |publisher=YouTube |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9GqdzQeCz0|work=Combined Joint Task Force—Horn of Africa|accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref>]]

In a 2006 interview, Obama highlighted the diversity of his extended family. "Michelle will tell you that when we get together for Christmas or Thanksgiving, it's like a little mini-United Nations," he said. "I've got relatives who look like [[Bernie Mac]], and I've got relatives who look like [[Margaret Thatcher]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/oprahshow1_ss_20061018/10 |title=Keeping Hope Alive: Barack Obama Puts Family First |date=2006-10-18 |work=The Oprah Winfrey Show |accessdate=2008-06-24}}</ref> Obama has seven half-siblings from his Kenyan father's family, six of them living, and a half-sister, [[Maya Soetoro-Ng]], the daughter of his mother and her Indonesian second husband.<ref>{{cite news |first=Scott |last=Fornek |title=Half Siblings: 'A Complicated Family' |date=2007-09-09 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/familytree/545462,BSX-News-wotrees09.stng |work=Chicago Sun-Times |accessdate=2008-06-24}} See also: {{cite web |url=http://www.suntimes.com/images/cds/special/family_tree.html |title=Interactive Family Tree |date=2007-09-09 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |accessdate=2008-06-24}}</ref> Obama's mother was survived by her Kansas-born mother, Madelyn Dunham<ref>{{cite news |first=Scott |last=Fornek |title=Madelyn Payne Dunham: 'A Trailblazer' |date=2007-09-09 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/familytree/545449,BSX-News-wotreeee09.stng |work=Chicago Sun-Times |accessdate=2008-06-24}}</ref> until her death on November 2, 2008, just before the presidential election.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/obama.grandma/index.html|publisher=CNN |title= Obama's grandmother dies after battle with cancer |publisher= CNN |accessdate= 2008-11-04 |date= 2008-11-03}}</ref> In ''Dreams from My Father'', Obama ties his mother's family history to possible [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] ancestors and distant relatives of [[Jefferson Davis]], president of the southern Confederacy during the American Civil War.<ref>Obama (1995), p. 13. For reports on Obama's maternal genealogy, including slave owners, Irish connections, and common ancestors with George W. Bush, [[Dick Cheney]], and [[Harry S. Truman|Harry Truman]], see: {{cite news |first=David |last=Nitkin |coauthors=Harry Merritt |title=A New Twist to an Intriguing Family History |date=2007-03-02 |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/politics/bal-te.obama02mar02,0,3453027.story |work=Baltimore Sun |accessdate=2008-06-24}} {{cite news |first=Mary |last=Jordan |title=Tiny Irish Village Is Latest Place to Claim Obama as Its Own |date=2007-05-13 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/12/AR2007051201551.html |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=2008-06-24}} {{cite news |title=Obama's Family Tree Has a Few Surprises |date=2007-09-08 |publisher=CBS 2 (Chicago) |url=http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/Barack.Obama.family.2.339709.html |work=Associated Press |accessdate=2008-06-24}}</ref>

Obama plays [[basketball]], a sport he participated in as a member of his high school's varsity team.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jodi |last=Kantor |title=One Place Where Obama Goes Elbow to Elbow |date=2007-06-01 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/01/us/politics/01hoops.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=2008-04-28}} See also: {{cite news |title=The Love of the Game |format=video |date=2008-04-15 |publisher=YouTube (BarackObama.com) |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Lqm5emQl4 |work=[http://www.hbo.com/realsports/stories/2008/episode.133.s1.html HBO: Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel] |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> Before announcing his presidential candidacy, he began a well-publicized effort to [[Smoking cessation|quit smoking]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Christi |last=Parsons |title=Obama Launches an '07 Campaign—To Quit Smoking |date=2007-02-06 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-0702060167feb06,0,373462.story |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080216014954/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-0702060167feb06,0,373462.story |archivedate=2008-02-16 |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref>

Obama is a [[Christian]] whose religious views have evolved in his adult life. In ''[[The Audacity of Hope]]'', Obama writes that he "was not raised in a religious household." He describes his mother, raised by non-religious parents (whom Obama has specified elsewhere as "non-practicing Methodists and Baptists") to be detached from religion, yet "in many ways the most spiritually awakened person that I have ever known." He describes his father as "raised a [[Muslim]]", but a "confirmed [[atheist]]" by the time his parents met, and his stepfather as "a man who saw religion as not particularly useful." In the book, Obama explains how, through working with [[black church]]es as a community organizer while in his twenties, he came to understand "the power of the African-American religious tradition to spur social change."<ref>Obama (2006), pp. 202–208. Portions excerpted in: {{cite news |first=Barack |last=Obama |title=My Spiritual Journey |date=2006-10-23 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1546579,00.html |work=Time |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060628-call_to_renewal/ |title='Call to Renewal' Keynote Address |accessdate=2008-06-16 |last=Obama |first=Barack |date=2006-06-28 |work=Barack Obama: U.S. Senator for Illinois (website)}}</ref> He was baptized at [[Trinity United Church of Christ]] in 1988.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/30/america/30obama.php?page=2|title=Barack Obama's search for faith|author=Jodi Kantor|date=April 30, 2007|publisher=[[International Herald Tribune]]}}
April 30, 2007</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1546579,00.html|title=My Spiritual Journey|author=Barack Obama|date=Oct 16, 2006|publisher=[[Time magazine]]}}</ref>

==Cultural and political image==
{{main|Public image of Barack Obama}}
<!-- Note - we now have a main article, so if you agree with the split we should CONDENSE this section, not EXPAND it. Please help summarize this, and add new material to the new main article -->

With his Kenyan father and white American mother, his upbringing in [[Honolulu]] and [[Jakarta]], and his [[Ivy League]] education, Obama's early life experiences differ markedly from those of African-American politicians who launched their careers in the 1960s through participation in the [[African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968)|civil rights movement]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Wallace-Wells |first=Benjamin |title=The Great Black Hope: What's Riding on Barack Obama? |date=November 2004 |work=Washington Monthly |url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0411.wallace-wells.html |accessdate=2008-04-07}} See also: {{cite news |first=Janny |last=Scott |title=A Member of a New Generation, Obama Walks a Fine Line |date=2007-12-28 |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/28/america/obama.php |work=International Herald Tribune |accessdate=2008-04-07}}</ref> Expressing puzzlement over questions about whether he is "black enough," Obama told an August 2007 meeting of the [[National Association of Black Journalists]] that the debate is not about his physical appearance or his record on issues of concern to black voters. Obama said that "we're still locked in this notion that if you appeal to white folks then there must be something wrong."<ref>{{cite news |first=Les |last=Payne |title=In One Country, a Dual Audience |format=paid archive |date=2007-08-19 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/1322008241.html?dids=1322008241:1322008241&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |work=Newsday |accessdate=2008-04-07}}</ref>

Echoing the [[inaugural address of John F. Kennedy]], Obama acknowledged his youthful image in an October 2007 campaign speech, saying: "I wouldn't be here if, time and again, the torch had not been passed to a new generation."<ref>{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Dorning |title=Obama Reaches Across Decades to JFK |format=paid archive |date=2007-10-04 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/1353513781.html?dids=1353513781:1353513781&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+4%2C+2007&author=Mike+Dorning |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=2008-04-07}} See also: {{cite news |first=Toby |last=Harnden |title=Barack Obama is JFK Heir, Says Kennedy Aide |date=2007-10-15 |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565992/Barack-Obama-is-JFK-heir%2C-says-Kennedy-aide.html |work=Daily Telegraph |accessdate=2008-04-07}}</ref>

Many commentators mentioned Obama's international appeal as a defining factor for his public image.<ref>[http://www.theroot.com/id/48102 ''The Root'']; [http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-06-12-poll_N.htm ''USA Today'']</ref> Not only did several polls show strong support for him in other countries,<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/09/2360240.htm?section=world World wants Obama as president: poll]</ref> but Obama also established close relationships with prominent foreign politicians and elected officials even before his presidential candidacy, notably with then current [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|British Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]], whom he met in [[London]] in 2005,<ref>[http://obama.senate.gov/press/050823-obama_to_visit/ "Obama to visit nuclear, biological weapons destruction facilities in former Soviet Union" - Senate.gov]</ref> with [[Italy]]'s [[Democratic Party (Italy)|Democratic Party]] leader [[Walter Veltroni]], who visited Obama's Senate office in 2005,<ref>[http://www.partitodemocratico.it/allegatidef/veltroni63375.pdf Quel giorno di tre anni fa a Washington Barack mi raccontò la sua speranza][http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aea6jJJwShpQ&refer=europe Rome Mayor's Leadership Bid May Lead to Early Italian Elections]; [http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2005/aprile/30/politico_prevale_sull_amministratore_co_10_050430003.shtml VELTRONI A NEW YORK - Il politico prevale sull' amministratore]; [http://store.libreriarizzoli.it/4DLink/4DAction/MostraScheda?Codice=978881701658 Libreria Rizzoli Galleria]</ref> and
with [[French President]] [[Nicolas Sarkozy]], who also visited him in [[Washington]] in 2006.<ref>[http://www.economist.com/blogs/certainideasofeurope/2008/02/sarkozy_obama_and_mccain.cfm "Sarkozy, Obama and McCain" - ''The Economist'']</ref>

==President elect of the United States==
On November 4, 2008, Barack Obama defeated [[John McCain]] and became the first African American to be elected President of the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7709978.stm |title=BBC NEWS &#124; World &#124; Americas &#124; US Elections 2008 &#124; Obama wins historic US election |publisher=News.bbc.co.uk |date=Page last updated at 06:09 GMT, Wednesday, 5 November 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05elect.html?hp|title=Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls|work=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=2008-11-05}}</ref><ref name="first1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/election.president/index.html|title=Obama: 'This is your victory'|accessyear=2008|accessmonthday=November 5|publisher=CNN|year=2008|author=CNN}}</ref> In his [[Barack Obama presidential acceptance speech, 2008|victory speech]], delivered before a crowd of hundreds of thousands of his supporters in Chicago, Obama proclaimed that "change has come to America."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/change-has-come-says-presidentelect-obama-992930.html |title=Change has come, says President-elect Obama - Americas, World - The Independent |publisher=Independent.co.uk |author=Rural Notebook |date= |accessdate=2008-11-05}}</ref>

<em>see [[Presidential transition of Barack Obama]]</em>

==Written works==
*{{citebook
|first=Barack
|last=Obama
|title=[[Dreams from My Father]]: A Story of Race and Inheritance
|publisher=[[Three Rivers Press]]
|year=1995
|isbn=0307383415}} [[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album|Audio Book Grammy Award Winner: Spoken word]]<ref>{{cite news |author=Morris, Chris |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001994185 |title=U2 goes 5-for-5 at Grammys |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2006-09-06|accessdate=2008-09-20}}</ref>
*{{citebook
|first=Barack
|last=Obama
|title=[[The Audacity of Hope]]: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
|publisher=[[Crown Publishing Group]] / [[Three Rivers Press]]
|date=October 17, 2006
|isbn=0307237699}} Audio Book Grammy Award Winner: Spoken word<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/302267|title=Obama beats ex-presidents for audiobook Grammy |work=Toronto Star |author=Associated Press |date=2008-02-10|accessdate=2008-02-10}}</ref><ref name="reuters-grammy-second">{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed1/idUSN0852813420080210|title=Obama or Clinton? Grammys go for Obama|date=2008-02-10|accessdate=2008-11-05|first=Dead|last=Goodman|publisher=Reuters|quote=Obama on Sunday won the spoken word Grammy for the audiobook version of his blockbuster tome ''The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream.'' It marked his second statuette, following a win in 2006 for ''Dreams From My Father''.}}</ref>
*{{citebook
|first=Barack
|last=Obama
|title=Barack Obama in His Own Words
|publisher=[[PublicAffairs]]
|date=March 27, 2007
|isbn=0786720573}}
*{{citebook
|author=National Urban League
|title=The State of Black America 2007: Portrait of the Black Male
|publisher=Beckham Publications Group
|edition=Foreword by Barack Obama
|date=April 17, 2007
|isbn=0931761859}}
*{{cite journal
|last=Obama
|first=Barack
|title=Renewing American Leadership
|journal=Foreign Affairs
|volume=86
|issue=4
|date=July-August 2007
|url=http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20070701faessay86401/barack-obama/renewing-american-leadership.html
|accessdate=2008-01-14}}
*{{citebook
|first=Barack
|last=Obama
|title=Barack Obama: What He Believes In – From His Own Works
|publisher=Arc Manor
|date=March 1, 2008
|isbn=1604501170
|unused_data=|coauthors:U.S. Senate}}
*{{citebook
|first=Barack
|last=Obama
|title=Barack Obama vs. John McCain – Side by Side Senate Voting Record for Easy Comparison
|publisher=Arc Manor
|coauthors=McCain, John
|date=June 13, 2008
|isbn=1604502495}}
*{{citebook
|first=Barack
|last=Obama
|title=Change We Can Believe In: Barack Obama's Plan to Renew America's Promise
|publisher=[[Three Rivers Press]]
|date=September 9, 2008
|edition=Foreword by Barack Obama
|isbn=0307460452}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
*Obama, Barack (1998) ''Public policy in the 21st century.'' [[Loyola University of Chicago]]. Center for Instructional Design.; VHS Video
*{{cite book|last=Obama|first=Barack|title=[[Dreams from My Father|Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance]]|publisher=[[Times Books]]|year=2004|isbn=1-4000-8277-3}}
*Obama, Barack (2005) ''EBONY'S 60th Anniversary - The Political Movement In Black America''. Chicago, Johnson Pub. Co., etc., Ebony. 61, no. 1, (2005): 116
*Obama, Barack (2005) ''Bound to the Word - Guardians of truth and knowledge, librarians must be thanked for their role as champions of privacy, literacy, independent thinking, and, most of all, reading.'' American libraries. 36, no. 7, (2005): 48, Chicago, American Library Association.
*{{cite book|last=Obama|first=Barack|title=[[The Audacity of Hope|The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream]]|publisher=[[Crown Publishing Group]]|year=2006|isbn=0-307-23769-9}}
*Obama, Barack (2006) ''It takes a nation : how strangers became family in the wake of Hurricane Katrina : the story of MoveOn.org Civic Action's HurricaneHousing.org'' by Laura Dawn; Barack Obama; San Rafael, CA : Earth Aware, ISBN: 1932771867 9781932771862
*Obama, Barack (2006) ''Lobbying reform : congressional ethics in the wake of scandal : does the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act provide for sufficient reforms?'' by Trent Lott; Barack Obama; Congressional Digest Corporation.; et al, Bethesda, MD : Congressional Digest Corp., OCLC: 84912539
*Obama, Barack (2007) ''Barack Obama in his own words'' Ed. Lisa Rogak, New York: Carroll & Graf, 2007. ISBN: 9780786720576 0786720573
*Obama, Barack (2008, contr.) in ''Health care'' by David M Haugen; Detroit : Greenhaven Press/Gale; ISBN: 9780737740066; 073774006X; 9780737740073; 0737740078
*Obama, Barack (2008) ''Affordable Health Care for All Americans: The Obama-Biden Plan 13. Affordable Health Care for All Americans: The Obama-Biden Plan'' JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association. 300, no. 16, (2008): 1927, Chicago : American Medical Association, 1960-
*Obama, Barack (2008) ''An American story : the speeches of Barack Obama : a primer'' by Barack Obama and David Olive; Toronto: ECW Press, ISBN: 9781550228649; 1550228641
*Obama, Barack (2008) ''Change we can believe in : Barack Obama's plan to renew America's promise'', New York : Three Rivers Press, ISBN: 9780307460455 : 0307460452 : 9780739383223 0739383221
*Obama, Barack (2008) ''Barack Obama's speech on race : "A more perfect union."'' BN Publishing, ISBN: 9650060448 9789650060442
*Obama, Barack (2008) ''An analysis of the Obama health care proposal'' by John Holahan; Linda Blumberg; Barack Obama; Health Policy Center (Urban Institute, Washington), D.C. : Urban Institute Health Policy Center, OCLC: 262633852
*Obama, Barack (2008) ''Renewing American leadership'' [[Foreign Affairs]], New York/N.Y.(0015-7120), 86 (Juli-August 2007) 4 S. 2-16 Ill.
*{{cite book|last=Mendell|first=David|title=Obama: From Promise to Power|publisher=Amistad/[[HarperCollins]]|year=2007|url=http://www.harpercollins.com/book/index.aspx?isbn=9780060858209|isbn=0-06-085820-6}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
{{BarackObamaSegmentsUnderInfoBox}}
{{Spoken Wikipedia|En-Barack_Obama-article1.ogg|2008-09-03}}
*Curry, Jessica. "[http://www.chicagolife.net/content/politics/Barack_Obama Barack Obama: Under the Lights]", ''Chicago Life'', Fall 2004. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
*Graff, Garrett. "[http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/mediapolitics/1836.html The Legend of Barack Obama]", ''Washingtonian'', November 1, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
*Lizza, Ryan. "[http://men.style.com/gq/features/landing?id=content_5841 Above the Fray]", ''GQ'', September 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
*Koltun, Dave (2005) ''"The 2004 Illinois Senate Race: Obama Wins Open Seat and Becomes National Political “Star”"'' in ''"The Road to Congress 2004"'' Editors: [[Sunil Ahuja]] ([[Youngstown State University]]) and [[Robert Dewhirst]] ([[Northeast Missouri State University]]), [[Nova Science Publishers]], Haupauge, New York, Binding: Hardcover Pub. Date: 2005, ISBN: 1-59454-360-7
*MacFarquhar, Larissa. "[http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/05/07/070507fa_fact_macfarquhar The Conciliator: Where is Barack Obama Coming From?]", ''New Yorker'', May 7, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
*Mundy, Liza. "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR2007080802038.html A Series of Fortunate Events]", ''The Washington Post Magazine'', August 12, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
*Wallace-Wells, Ben. "[http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/13390609/campaign_08_the_radical_roots_of_barack_obama Destiny's Child]", ''Rolling Stone'', February 7, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
*Zutter, Hank De. "[http://www.chicagoreader.com/obama/951208/ What Makes Obama Run?]", ''Chicago Reader'', December 8, 1995. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.

==External links==
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;Site directory
* {{dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Society_and_Culture/Politics/Candidates_and_Campaigns/Presidential/Candidates/Obama,_Barack}}
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*{{bbcnews|2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7697829.stm|US election results map}}
*{{bbcnews|2/hi/in_pictures/7709830.stm|In pictures: Election result reaction}}
*{{bbcnews|2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7710020.stm|In quotes: US election reaction}}
*[http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSTRE4A43VA20081105 FACTBOX: Barack Obama, Democratic President-elect] (''[[Reuters]]'', November 5, 2008)

{{start box}}
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{{US Presidents}}
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<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
{{Persondata
|NAME=Obama, Barack, Jr.
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Obama, Barack Hussein
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=US Jr. Senator from Illinois
|DATE OF BIRTH=August 4, 1961
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Honolulu, Hawaii|Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]]
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Revision as of 02:55, 7 November 2008

VAGINA MY FANNY CUNT

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