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{{Redirect4|Barack|Obama}}{{Pp-semi-indef}}{{Pp-move-indef}}{{Active editnotice}} <!-- See [[Wikipedia:Editnotice]] -->{{FixBunching|begin}}
{{Infobox President
| image = Official portrait of Barack Obama.jpg
| order = [[List of Presidents of the United States|44th]]
| office = President of the United States
| term_start = January 20, 2009 <!-- Term officially started 12pm January 20, prior to the administration of the presidential oath. -->
| term_end =
| vicepresident = [[Joe Biden]]
| predecessor = [[George W. Bush]]
| jr/sr2 = United States Senator
| state2 = [[Illinois]]
| term_start2 = January 4, 2005
| term_end2 = November 16, 2008
| predecessor2 = [[Peter Fitzgerald]]
| successor2 = [[Roland Burris]]
| state_senate3 = Illinois
| state3 = [[Illinois]]
| district3 = 13th
| 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|04}}<ref name="biography">{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president_obama/|title=President Barack Obama|work=www.whitehouse.gov}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]]<ref name="birth-certificate">{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/media/img/graphics/birthCertObama.jpg|title=Birth Certificate of Barack Obama|work=Department of Health, Hawaii| publisher=[[St. Petersburg Times|PolitiFact.com]]|date=August 8, 1961|accessdate=December 12, 2008}}</ref>
| birthname = Barack Hussein Obama II<ref name="birth-certificate"/>
| nationality = [[United States|American]]
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse = [[Michelle Obama]] <small>(m. 1992)</small>
| children = [[Family of Barack Obama#Immediate family|Malia Ann <small>(b.1998)</small><br />Natasha (Sasha) <small>(b.2001)</small>]]
| residence = [[The White House]]
| alma_mater = [[Occidental College]]<br/>[[Columbia University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]])<br/>[[Harvard Law School]] ([[Juris Doctor|J.D.]])
| occupation = [[Community organizing|Community organizer]]<br/>[[Lawyer]]<br/> [[Constitutional law]] [[professor]]<br/>[[Author]]
| religion = [[Christian]],<ref name="miller.Obama">{{cite web
|publisher = Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia
|title = American President: Barack Obama
|url = http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/obama
|accessdate = January 23, 2009}}</ref> former member of [[United Church of Christ]]<ref name=ucc>{{cite press release
| title = Barack Obama, long time UCC member, inaugurated forty-fourth U.S. President
| publisher = United Church of Christ
| date = January 20, 2009
| url = http://www.ucc.org/news/obama-inauguration.html
| accessdate = January 21, 2009
| quote = Barack Obama, who spent more than 20 years as a UCC member, is the forty-fourth President of the United States. }}</ref><ref>An [[Associated Press]] wire story on Obama's resignation from [[Trinity United Church of Christ]] in the course of the [[Jeremiah Wright controversy]] stated that he had, in doing so, disaffiliated himself with the UCC. (See {{cite news|title=Obama's church choice likely to be scrutinized|agency=Associated Press|date=November 17, 2008|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27775757/|publisher=[[msnbc.com]]|accessdate=2009-01-20}})</ref>
| signature = Barack Obama signature.svg
| website = [http://www.whitehouse.gov/ The White House]
| footnotes = <div style="background:#ccf;" class="center" >'''This article is part of a series about'''</div><div style="font-size:120%; background:#ccf;" class="center" >'''Barack Obama'''</div><div style="font-size:120%;" class="center" >[[Early life and career of Barack Obama|Background]] {{·}} [[Illinois Senate career of Barack Obama|Illinois Senate]] {{·}} [[United States Senate career of Barack Obama|U.S. Senate]]{{·}} [[Political positions of Barack Obama|Political positions]]{{·}} [[Public image of Barack Obama|Public image]]{{·}} [[Family of Barack Obama|Family]]{{·}} [[Barack Obama presidential primary campaign, 2008|2008 primaries]]{{·}} [[Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008|Obama–Biden campaign]]{{·}} [[Presidential transition of Barack Obama|Transition]]{{·}}[[Inauguration of Barack Obama|Inauguration]]{{·}}[[Electoral history of Barack Obama|Electoral history]]{{·}} [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Presidency]] ([[Timeline of the Presidency of Barack Obama|Timeline]], [[Barack Obama's first 100 days|First 100 days]])<div align="right">[[#obamaNavbox|''more...'']]</div></div>
}}
{{FixBunching|end}}

<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE OBAMA'S NAME -->'''Barack Hussein Obama II''' ({{pron-en|bəˈrɑːk huːˈseɪn oʊˈbɑːmə}}; born August 4, 1961) is the [[List of Presidents of the United States|44th]] and current [[President of the United States]]. He is the first [[African American]] to hold the office. Obama was the [[Seniority in the United States Senate|junior]] [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[Illinois]] from January 2005 until November 2008, when he resigned after his [[United States presidential election, 2008|election]] to the [[Presidency of Barack Obama|presidency]].

Obama is a graduate of [[Columbia College of Columbia University|Columbia University]] and [[Harvard Law School]], where he was the [[List of African-American firsts|first African American]] president of the ''[[Harvard Law Review]]''. He was a [[Community organizing|community organizer]] in [[Chicago]] before earning his law degree. He worked as a [[civil and political rights|civil rights]] attorney in Chicago and also taught [[constitutional law]] at the [[University of Chicago Law School]] from 1992 to 2004.

Obama served three terms in the [[Illinois Senate]] from 1997 to 2004. Following an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] in 2000, Obama ran for United States Senate in 2004. His victory from a crowded field in the March 2004 [[United States Senate election in Illinois, 2004#Democratic primary|Democratic primary]] raised his visibility, and his prime-time televised [[2004 Democratic National Convention keynote address|keynote address]] at the [[2004 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]] in July 2004 made him a rising star nationally in the Democratic Party. He was [[United States Senate election in Illinois, 2004|elected]] to the U.S. Senate in November 2004 by the largest margin in Illinois history.

He began his run for the presidency in February 2007. After a [[Barack Obama presidential primary campaign, 2008|close campaign]] in the [[Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008|2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries]] against [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]], he won his party's nomination, becoming the first [[major party]] African American candidate for president. In the [[United States presidential election, 2008|2008 general election]], he defeated [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidate [[John McCain]] and was [[Inauguration of Barack Obama|inaugurated]] as president on January 20, 2009.

==Early life and career==
{{main|Early life and career of Barack Obama}}

Barack Obama was born at the [[Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children]] in [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], [[United States]],<ref name="maraniss">{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/23/AR2008082301620.html|title=Though Obama Had to Leave to Find Himself, It Is Hawaii That Made His Rise Possible|last=Maraniss|first=David|work=Politics|publisher=Washington Post|date=August 24, 2008|accessdate=October 27, 2008}}</ref> to [[Ann Dunham|Stanley Ann Dunham]],<ref>For Stanley Ann's first name, see Obama (1995, 2004), p. 19</ref> an American of mainly English descent from [[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|dateformat=mdy|accessdate=October 24 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/368961,CST-NWS-ireland03.article|title=For sure, Obama's South Side Irish|last=Hutton|first=Brian|work=Politics|publisher=[[Chicago Sun-Times|The Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=May 3, 2007|accessdate=November 23, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/12/AR2007051201551.html|title=Tiny Irish Village Is Latest Place to Claim Obama as Its Own - washingtonpost.com|publisher=Washingtonpost.com|date=|accessdate=November 8, 2008}}</ref> and [[Barack Obama, Sr.]], a [[Luo (Kenya and Tanzania)|Luo]] from [[Nyang’oma Kogelo]], [[Nyanza Province]], [[Kenya]]. Obama's parents met in 1960 in a [[Russian language]] class at the [[University of Hawaii at Manoa|University of Hawaii at Mānoa]], where his father was a foreign student on scholarship.<ref>Obama (1995, 2004), pp. 9–10. For book excerpts, see {{cite news|title=Barack Obama: Creation of Tales|date=November 1, 2004|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=September 27, 2007|work=East African|accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</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|first=Tim|last=Jones|publisher=''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', reprinted in ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]''|date=March 27, 2007|accessdate=October 27, 2008}}</ref> The couple married on 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=April 9, 2008|work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|accessdate=April 9, 2007}}</ref> and Barack was born later that year. His parents separated when he was two years old and they 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=December 14, 2007|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2007/12/13/ST2007121301893.html|work=Washington Post|accessdate=June 24, 2008}} See also: {{cite news|first=Philip|last=Ochieng|title=From Home Squared to the US Senate: How Barack Obama Was Lost and Found|date=November 1, 2004|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=September 27, 2007|work=East African|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</ref>

After her divorce, Dunham married [[Indonesia]]n student [[Lolo Soetoro]], who was attending college in Hawaii. When [[Suharto]], a military leader in Soetoro's home country, [[Transition to the New Order|came to power]] in 1967, all Indonesian students studying abroad were recalled and the family moved to the island nation.<ref>Obama (1995, 2004), pp. 44–45.</ref> From ages six to ten, Obama attended local schools in [[Jakarta]], including Besuki Public School and St. Francis of Assisi School.

In 1971, he returned to Honolulu to live with his maternal grandparents, [[Madelyn Dunham|Madelyn]] and [[Stanley Armour Dunham]], and attended [[Punahou School]], a private [[college preparatory school]], from the [[Education in the United States#School grades|fifth grade]] until his graduation from high school in 1979.<ref>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Serafin|title=Punahou Grad Stirs Up Illinois Politics|date=March 21, 2004|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/03/21/news/story4.html|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|accessdate=April 13, 2008}} See also: Obama (1995, 2004), Chapters 3 and 4.</ref>

Obama's mother returned to Hawaii in 1972 and remained there until 1977, when she relocated to Indonesia to work as an [[anthropology|anthropological]] field worker. She finally returned to Hawaii in 1994 and lived there for one year before dying of [[ovarian cancer]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Amanda|last=Ripley|title=The Story of Barack Obama's Mother|date=April 9, 2008|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1729524,00.html|work=Time|accessdate=June 24, 2008}} See also: {{cite news|first=Julia|last=Suryakusuma|title=Obama for President... of Indonesia|date=November 29, 2006|work=Jakarta Post|url=http://old.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20061129.F03|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</ref>

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

Of his early childhood, Obama recalled, "That my father looked nothing like the people around me—that he was black as pitch, my mother white as milk—barely registered in my mind."<ref>Obama (1995), pp. 9–10.</ref> He described his struggles as a young adult to reconcile social perceptions of his [[multiracial]] heritage.<ref>Obama (1995), Chapters 4 and 5. See also: {{cite news|first=Richard A|last=Serrano|title=Obama's Peers Didn't See His Angst|format=paid archive|date=March 11, 2007|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/1230439131.html?dids=1230439131:1230439131&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+11%2C+2007&author=Richard+A.+Serrano&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=A.20&desc=THE+NATION|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=January 4, 2008}}</ref> Reflecting later on his formative years in Honolulu, Obama wrote: "The opportunity that Hawaii offered—to experience a variety of cultures in a climate of mutual respect—became an integral part of my world view, and a basis for the values that I hold most dear."<ref>{{cite news|first=B. J|last=Reyes|title=Punahou Left Lasting Impression on Obama|date=February 8, 2007|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/02/08/news/story02.html|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|accessdate=January 4, 2008}} "As a teenager, Obama went to parties and sometimes sought out gatherings on military bases or at the University of Hawaii that were mostly attended by blacks."</ref> Obama has also written and talked about using [[alcoholic beverage|alcohol]], [[Cannabis (drug)|marijuana]] and [[cocaine]] during his teenage years to "push questions of who I was out of my mind".<ref>{{cite news|title=Obama Gets Blunt with N.H. Students| date=November 21, 2007|publisher=Boston Globe|url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/11/21/obama_gets_blunt_with_nh_students/|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=January 4, 2008}} In ''Dreams from My Father'', Obama writes: "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it." Obama (1995), pp. 93–94. For analysis of the political impact of the quote and Obama's more recent admission that he smoked marijuana as a teenager ("When I was a kid, I inhaled."), see: {{cite news|first=Lois|last=Romano|title=Effect of Obama's Candor Remains to Be Seen|date=January 3, 2007|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/02/AR2007010201359.html|work=Washington Post|accessdate=January 4, 2008}} {{cite news|first=Katharine Q|last=Seelye|title=Obama Offers More Variations From the Norm|date=October 24, 2006|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/24/us/politics/24obama.html|work=New York Times|accessdate=January 4, 2008}}</ref> At the [[Civil Forum on the Presidency|2008 Civil Forum on the Presidency]] in 2008, Obama identified his high-school drug use as his "greatest moral failure".<ref>{{cite news|first=Ed|last=Hornick|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/16/warren.forum/|title=Obama, McCain talk issues at pastor's forum|publisher=CNN.com|location=LAKE FOREST, California|date=August 17, 2008|accessdate=January 4, 2009}}</ref>

Following high school, he moved to [[Los Angeles]] in 1979 to attend [[Occidental College]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Oxy Remembers "Barry" Obama '83|date=January 29, 2007|url=http://www.oxy.edu/x8270.xml|publisher=Occidental College|accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</ref> After two years he transferred in 1981 to [[Columbia University]] 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=June 9, 2008}}</ref> and graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in 1983. He 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=May 9, 2001|title=Curriculum Vitae|publisher=The University of Chicago Law School|accessdate=November 3, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Sasha|last=Issenberg|title=Obama shows hints of his year in global finance: Tied markets to social aid|date=August 6, 2008|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=April 13, 2008}}</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=June 6, 2008|page=3468}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Janny|last=Scott|title=Obama's Account of New York Years Often Differs from What Others Say|date=October 30, 2007|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/us/politics/30obama.html|work=The New York Times|accessdate=April 13, 2008}} Obama (1995, 2004), 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]]. He worked there as a community organizer from June 1985 to May 1988.<ref name="Who's Who 2008"/><ref>{{cite news|author=Secter, Bob; McCormick, John|date=March 30, 2007|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=February 9, 2008|work=Chicago Tribune|page=1|accessdate=June 6, 2008}} {{cite news|first=Ryan|last=Lizza|title=The Agitator: Barack Obama's Unlikely Political Education|format=alternate link|date=March 19, 2007|url=http://www.pickensdemocrats.org/info/TheAgitator_070319.htm|work=New Republic|accessdate=April 13, 2008}} Obama (1995, 2004), 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. He helped 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=February 15, 1990|title=A Law Review breakthrough|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/1990/02/15/a_law_review_breakthrough/|format=paid archive|work=The Boston Globe|page=29|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Corr, John|date=February 27, 1990|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=June 6, 2008}}</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=June 6, 2008}} reprinted in: {{cite book|year=1990|pages=35–40|author=Knoepfle, Peg (ed.)|title=After Alinsky: community organizing in Illinois|location=Springfield, IL|publisher=Sangamon State University|isbn=0962087335|accessdate=June 6, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Tayler, Letta; Herbert, Keith |date=March 2, 2008|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=June 6, 2008}}{{dead link|date=May 2009}}</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|paternal relatives]] for the first time.<ref>Obama (1995, 2004), pp. 299–437.</ref> He returned in August 2006 in a visit to his father's birthplace, a village near [[Kisumu]] in rural western Kenya.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nico|last=Gnecchi|title=Obama Receives Hero's Welcome at His Family's Ancestral Village in Kenya|date=February 27, 2006|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-08/2006-08-27-voa17.cfm|work=Voice of America|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</ref>

Obama entered [[Harvard Law School]] in late 1988. He was selected as an editor of the ''Harvard Law Review'' at the end of his first year,<ref name="Harvard Law 2007">{{cite news|author=Levenson, Michael; Saltzman, Jonathan|date=January 28, 2007|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=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Kantor, Jodi|date=January 28, 2007|title=In law school, Obama found political voice|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/us/politics/28obama.html?pagewanted=all|work=The New York Times|page=1|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Kodama, Marie C|date=January 19, 2007|title=Obama left mark on HLS|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=516664|work=The Harvard Crimson|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Mundy, Liza|title=A series of fortunate events|date=August 12, 2007|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR2007080802038_pf.html|work=The Washington Post|page=W10|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite journal|author=Heilemann, John|title=When they were young|date=October 22, 2007|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=June 15, 2008}} Mendell (2007), pp. 80–92.</ref> and president of the journal in his second year.<ref name="Harvard Law 1990">{{cite news|author=Butterfield, Fox|date=February 6, 1990|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=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Ybarra, Michael J|date=February 7, 1990|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=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Matchan, Linda|date=February 15, 1990|title=A Law Review breakthrough|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/1990/02/15/a_law_review_breakthrough/|format=paid archive|work=The Boston Globe|page=29|accessdate=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Corr, John|date=February 27, 1990|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=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Drummond, Tammerlin|date=March 12, 1990|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=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Evans, Gaynelle|date=March 15, 1990|title=Opening another door: The saga of Harvard's Barack H. Obama|work=Black Issues in Higher Education|page=5|url=http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_11791.shtml|accessdate=November 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Pugh, Allison J. (Associated Press)|date=April 18, 1990|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=June 15, 2008}}</ref> 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=July 11, 1990|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=June 15, 2008}}</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=May 9, 2007|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=October 26, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/973560/Barack-Obama|title=Barack Obama (American politician)|last=Mendell|first=David|accessdate=October 26, 2008}}</ref> from Harvard in 1991, he returned to Chicago.<ref name="Harvard Law 2007"/> Obama's election as the [[List of African-American firsts|first black president of the ''Harvard Law Review'']] gained national media attention<ref name="Harvard Law 1990"/> and led to a publishing contract and advance for a book about race relations,<ref name="Scott 2008a">{{cite news|author=Scott, Janny|date=May 18, 2008|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=June 15, 2008}} Obama (1995, 2004), pp. xiii–xvii.</ref> though it evolved into a personal memoir. The manuscript was published in mid-1995 as ''[[Dreams from My Father]]''.<ref name="Scott 2008a"/>

From April to October 1992, Obama directed Illinois's [[Project Vote]], a voter registration drive with a staff of ten and 700 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=June 6, 2008|page=83}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Jarrett, Vernon|date=August 11, 1992|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=June 6, 2008}} {{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=June 6, 2008}} {{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=June 6, 2008|page=43}}</ref>

For twelve years, Obama served as a professor of [[constitutional law]] at the [[University of Chicago Law School]]; as a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996, and as a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004.<ref>{{cite web|author=University of Chicago Law School|date=March 27, 2008|title=Statement regarding Barack Obama|publisher=University of Chicago Law School|url=http://www.law.uchicago.edu/media/index.html|accessdate=June 10, 2008}} {{cite web|author=Miller, Joe|date=March 28, 2008|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=June 10, 2008}} {{cite web|author=Holan, Angie Drobnic|date=March 7, 2008|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=June 10, 2008}}</ref> In 1993 he joined Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, a twelve-attorney law firm specializing in civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development, where he was an [[associate attorney|associate]] for three years from 1993 to 1996, then [[of counsel]] from 1996 to 2004, with his law license becoming inactive in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|author=Robinson, Mike (Associated Press)|date=February 20, 2007|title=Obama got start in civil rights practice|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/20/AR2007022000045.html|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=March 10, 2009}} {{cite news|author=Pallasch, Abdon M|date=December 17, 2007|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=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=|date=June 27, 1993|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=June 15, 2008}} {{cite news|author=|date=July 5, 1993|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=June 15, 2008}} {{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=June 15, 2008}} Obama (1995, 2004), pp. 438–439, Mendell (2007), pp. 104–106.</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=June 6, 2008}}</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"/>

==Political career: 1996&ndash;2008==
===State legislator: 1997&ndash;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's 13th District, which at that time spanned 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=April 3, 2007 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-070403obama-ballot-archive,0,5693903.story|work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=January 14, 2008}}
{{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=[[Illinois Secretary of State]] |page=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=February 9, 2007 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/08/AR2007020802262.html |work=Washington Post |accessdate=April 20, 2008}} {{cite news |first=Scott |last=Helman |title=In Illinois, Obama dealt with Lobbyists |date=September 23, 2007 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/09/23/in_illinois_obama_dealt_with_lobbyists/ |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=April 20, 2008}} See also: {{cite news |title=Obama Record May Be Gold Mine for Critics |date=January 17, 2007 |publisher=CBS News |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=April 20, 2008}} {{cite news |title=In-Depth Look at Obama's Political Career |date=February 9, 2007 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |url=http://video.chicagotribune.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?clipid1=1226539 |work=CLTV |format=video |accessdate=April 20, 2008}}</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=July 30, 2007 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=April 20, 2008}} See also: {{cite news |first=Rick |last=Pearson |coauthors=Ray Long |title=Careful Steps, Looking Ahead |date=May 3, 2007 |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=February 16, 2008 |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=April 20, 2008}}</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=December 15, 2000 |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=June 1, 2008}} {{cite news |author=Long, Ray; Allison, Melissa |date=April 18, 2001 |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=June 1, 2008}}</ref>

Obama was reelected to the Illinois Senate in 1998, defeating Republican Yesse Yehudah in the general election, and was reelected again in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |title=13th District: Barack Obama |format=archive |accessdate=April 20, 2008 |date=August 24, 2000 |publisher=Illinois State Senate Democrats |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20000824102110/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |archivedate=April 12, 2000}} {{cite web |url=http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |title=13th District: Barack Obama |format=archive |accessdate=April 20, 2008 |date=October 9, 2004 |publisher=Illinois State Senate Democrats |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20040802233730/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html |archivedate=August 2, 2004}}</ref> In 2000, he lost a Democratic primary run for [[Illinois's 1st congressional district election, 2000|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=April 24, 2008}}. 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=September 9, 2007 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/us/politics/09obama.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=April 20, 2008}}</ref><ref name=McClelland20070212>{{cite news |first=Edward |last=McClelland |title=How Obama Learned to Be a Natural |date=February 12, 2007 |url=http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/02/12/obama_natural/ |work=Salon |accessdate=April 20, 2008}} See also: {{cite news |first=Richard |last=Wolffe |coauthors=Daren Briscoe |title=Across the Divide |date=July 16, 2007 |publisher=MSNBC |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/33156 |work=Newsweek |accessdate=April 20, 2008}} {{cite news |first=Scott |last=Helman |title=Early Defeat Launched a Rapid Political Climb |date=October 12, 2007 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/12/early_defeat_launched_a_rapid_political_climb/ |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=April 20, 2008}} and {{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-10-24-3157940059_x.htm 24, 2007-3157940059_x.htm|title=Obama learned from failed Congress run |work=USA Today |author=Wills, Christopher|date=October 24, 2007 |accessdate=September 20, 2008}}</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=February 23, 2007 |url=http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117219748197216894-Sn6oV_4KLQHp_xz7CjYLuyjv3Jg_20070324.html |work=Wall Street Journal |accessdate=April 20, 2008}}</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=April 14, 2003 |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=June 1, 2008}} {{cite news |author=Haynes, V. Dion |date=June 29, 2003 |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=June 1, 2008}} {{cite news |author=Pearson, Rick |date=July 17, 2003 |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=June 1, 2008}}</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=March 14, 2007 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obamas-crime-votes-are-fodder-for-rivals-2007-03-13.html 13, 2007.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=April 20, 2008}} See also: {{cite news |title=US Presidential Candidate Obama Cites Work on State Death Penalty Reforms |date=November 12, 2007 |publisher=International Herald Tribune |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/12/america/NA-POL-US-Obama-Death-Penalty.php |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=April 20, 2008}}</ref> Obama resigned from the Illinois Senate in November 2004 following his election to the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite news |first=Melanie |last=Coffee |title=Attorney Chosen to Fill Obama's State Senate Seat |date=November 6, 2004 |publisher=HPKCC |url=http://www.hydepark.org/hpkccnews/raoul.htm#ap |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=April 20, 2008}}</ref>

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

In May 2002, Obama commissioned a poll to assess his prospects in a 2004 U.S. Senate race; he created a campaign committee, began raising funds and lined up political media consultant [[David Axelrod (political consultant)|David Axelrod]] by August 2002, and formally announced his candidacy in January 2003.<ref>{{cite news |first=Scott |last=Helman |title=Early Defeat Launched a Rapid Political Climb |date=October 12, 2007 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/12/early_defeat_launched_a_rapid_political_climb/ |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</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=March 7, 2004 |accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</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=April 1, 2007 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/magazine/01axelrod.t.html |work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</ref> In the March 2004 primary election, Obama won an unexpected landslide victory with 53% of the vote in a seven-candidate field, 29% ahead of his nearest Democratic rival, which overnight made him a rising star in the national Democratic Party and started speculation about a presidential future.<ref>{{cite news |author=Mendell, David |date=March 17, 2004 |title=Obama routs Democratic foes; Ryan tops crowded GOP field; Hynes, Hull fall far short across state |work=Chicago Tribune |page=1 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/custom/fashion/chi-0403170332mar17,0,4716349.story |accessdate=March 1, 2009}} {{cite news |author=Davey, Monica |date=March 18, 2004 |title=As quickly as overnight, a Democratic star is born |work=The New York Times |page=A20 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/18/us/as-quickly-as-overnight-a-democratic-star-is-born.html?pagewanted=all |accessdate=March 1, 2009}} {{cite news |author=Howlett, Debbie |date=March 19, 2004 |title=Dems see a rising star in Illinois Senate candidate |work=USA Today |page=A04 |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2004-03-18-obama-usat_x.htm |accessdate=March 1, 2009}} Mendell (2007), pp. 235–246.</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Scheiber, Noam |date=May 31, 2004 |title=Race Against History. Barack Obama's miraculous campaign |journal=The New Republic |volume=230 |issue=20 |pages=21–22, 24–26 (cover story) |url=http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=f8c75ffb-705b-4697-9e87-7829e139c76c |accessdate=2009-03-24}} {{cite journal |author=Finnegan, William |date=May 31, 2004 |title=The Candidate. How far can Barack Obama go? |journal=The New Yorker |volume=20 |issue=14 |pages=32–38 |url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/05/31/040531fa_fact1?currentPage=all |accessdate=2009-03-24}} {{cite news |author=Dionne Jr., E. J. |date=June 25, 2004 |title=In Illinois, a star prepares |work=The Washington Post |page=A29 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4062-2004Jun24.html |accessdate=2009-03-24}} Mendell (2007), pp. 247–259.</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=April 13, 2008}}</ref> Though it was not televised by the [[Big Three television networks|three major broadcast news networks]], a combined 9.1 million viewers saw Obama's speech, which was a highlight of the convention and elevated his status as a star in the Democratic Party.<!--
--><ref>{{cite news |author=. |date=August 2, 2004 |title=Star Power. Showtime: Some are on the rise; others have long been fixtures in the firmament. A galaxy of bright Democratic lights |work=Newsweek |pages=48–51 |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/54728/output/print |accessdate=November 15, 2008}} {{cite news |author=Samuel, Terence |date=August 2, 2004 |title=A shining star named Obama. How a most unlikely politician became a darling of the Democrats |work=U.S. News & World Report |page=25 |url=http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/040802/2obama.htm |accessdate=November 15, 2008}} {{cite news |author=Lizza, Ryan |month=September |year=2004 |title=The Natural. Why is Barack Obama generating more excitement among Democrats than John Kerry? |work=The Atlantic Monthly |pages=30, 33 |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200409/lizza |accessdate=November 15, 2008}} {{cite news |author=Davey, Monica |date=July 26, 2004 |title=A surprise Senate contender reaches his biggest stage yet |work=The New York Times |page=A1 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/26/politics/campaign/26obama.html?pagewanted=all |accessdate=November 15, 2008}} {{cite news |author=Leibovich, Mark |date=July 27, 2004 |title=The other man of the hour |work=The Washington Post |page=C1 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16606-2004Jul26.html |accessdate=November 15, 2008}} {{cite news |author=Milligan, Susan |date=July 27, 2004 |title=In Obama, Democrats see their future |work=The Boston Globe |page=B8 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/07/27/in_obama_democrats_see_their_future/ |accessdate=November 15, 2008}} {{cite news |author=Seelye, Katharine Q. |date=July 28, 2004 |title=Illinois Senate nominee speaks of encompassing unity |work=The New York Times |page=A1 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/28/politics/campaign/28blacks.html |accessdate=November 15, 2008}} {{cite news |author=Broder, David S. |date=July 28, 2004 |title=Democrats focus on healing divisions; Addressing convention, newcomers set themes |work=The Washington Post |page=A1 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17865-2004Jul27.html |accessdate=November 15, 2008}} {{cite news |author=Bing, Jonathan; McClintock, Pamela |date=July 29, 2004 |title=Auds resist charms of Dem stars |work=Daily Variety |page=1 |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117908388.html?categoryid=1077&cs=1 |accessdate=November 15, 2008}} Mendell (2007), pp. 272–285.</ref>

Obama's expected opponent in the general election, Republican primary winner [[Jack Ryan (politician)|Jack Ryan]], withdrew from the race in June 2004.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Drops Out of Senate Race in Illinois |date=June 25, 2004 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/25/il.ryan/ |work=CNN |accessdate=April 13, 2008}} Mendell (2007), pp. 260–271.</ref> Two months later, [[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=August 9, 2004 |publisher=Union-Tribune (San Diego) |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20040809-0849-illinoissenate.html |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</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=August 13, 2004 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0408130201aug13,0,1664738.story |work=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</ref> In the November 2004 general election, Obama received 70% of the vote to Keyes' 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=April 13, 2008}} {{cite news |first=Peter |last=Slevin |title=For Obama, a Handsome Payoff in Political Gambles |date=November 13, 2007 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/12/AR2007111201945.html |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=April 13, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Obama scores a record landslide | author=Chase, John and Mendell, David |url=http://www.noticiasdot.com/publicaciones/2004/1104/0311/noticias031104/presidenciales-usa/images/usa/chicago_tribune/chicago_tribune_031104.pdf | work=[[Chicago Tribune]] | page=1 | date=2004-11-03 | accessdate=2009-04-03}} {{cite news | url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1113153,cst-nws-obama110304.article | work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] | title=Obama takes Senate seat in a landslide | author=Fornek, Scott | date=2004-11-03 | accessdate=2009-04-03}} </ref>

===U.S. Senator: 2005&ndash;2008===
{{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=April 27, 2008|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=June 25, 2008}}</ref> He was 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=June 25, 2008}} See also: {{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Zeleny|title=When It Comes to Race, Obama Makes His Point—With Subtlety|date=June 26, 2005|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=February 16, 2008|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=June 25, 2008}}</ref> ''[[Congressional Quarterly|CQ Weekly]],'' a nonpartisan publication, characterized him as a "loyal Democrat" based on analysis of all Senate votes in 2005–2007. 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 most liberal, and in 2006 he was ranked tenth.<ref>{{cite news|first=David|last=Nather|title=The Space Between Clinton and Obama|date=January 14, 2008|url=http://public.cq.com/docs/cqw/weeklyreport110-000002654703.html|work=CQ Weekly|accessdate=June 25, 2008}} See also: {{cite news|first=Tom|last=Curry|title=What Obama's Senate Votes Reveal|date=February 21, 2008|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23276453/|work=MSNBC|accessdate=June 25, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/|title=Obama: Most Liberal Senator In 2007|work=National Journal|date=January 31, 2008|accessdate=June 25, 2008}}</ref> In 2008, Congress.org ranked him 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=September 7, 2008}}</ref> and the politician who was the most popular in the [[United States Senate|Senate]], enjoying 72% approval in [[Illinois]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-133418139.html|title=UPDATE; Obama leads Senate with 72% approval.|publisher=Star Tribune|author=Melissa Lee|accessdate=2009-02-26}}</ref> Obama announced on November 13, 2008 that he would resign his senate seat on November 16, 2008, before the start of the [[Lame duck (politics)|lame-duck]] session, to focus on his transition period for the presidency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE4AF1MJ20081116|title=Obama resigns Senate seat, thanks Illinois|accessdate=March 10, 2009|date=November 16, 2008|publisher=[[Reuters]]|author=Mason, Jeff}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1859020,00.html|title=Obama to Resign Senate Seat on Sunday|accessdate=November 22, 2008|date=November 13, 2008|publisher=[[Time Inc.]]|work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|author=Sidoti, Liz}}</ref> This enabled him to avoid the conflict of dual roles as President-elect and Senator in the lame duck session of Congress, which no sitting member of Congress had faced since [[Warren G. Harding|Warren Harding]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990DE4DD1E30F937A25752C1A96E9C8B63|title=ON THE WHITE HOUSE; If the Senate Reconvenes, Two Seats May Be Empty|accessdate=November 21, 2008|date=November 14, 2008|publisher=[[The New York Times Company]]|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Baker, Peter}}</ref>

====Legislation====
{{see also|List of bills sponsored by Barack Obama in the United States Senate}}
[[File:Coburn and Obama discuss S. 2590.jpg|thumb|right|Senate bill sponsors Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Obama discussing the Coburn–Obama Transparency Act.<ref>{{cite web |title=President Bush Signs Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. |date=September 26, 2006 |url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060926.html|publisher=White House|April 27, 2008}}</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=May 12, 2005 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN01033: |publisher=Thomas |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</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=November 20, 2006 |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=September 27, 2007 |work=CBS 2 (Chicago) |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</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=January 11, 2007 |publisher=Richard Lugar U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} See also: {{cite news |first=Richard G |last=Lugar |coauthors=Barack Obama |title=Junkyard Dogs of War |date=December 3, 2005 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/02/AR2005120201509.html |work=Washington Post |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</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=December 21, 2007 |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/502njiqx.asp |work=Weekly Standard |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} See also: {{cite web |title=President Bush Signs Coburn–Obama Transparency Act |date=September 26, 2006 |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=April 27, 2008}} 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>

[[File:Lugar-Obama.jpg|left|thumb|Obama and U.S. Sen. [[Richard Lugar]] (R-IN) visit a Russian mobile launch missile dismantling facility in August 2005.<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=April 30, 2008|format=PDF}}</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=February 3, 2008
|work=The New York Times |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> Obama is not hostile to [[tort reform]] and voted for the [[Class Action Fairness Act of 2005]] and the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008|FISA Amendments Act of 2008]] which grants immunity from civil liability to telecommunications companies complicit with [[NSA warrantless surveillance controversy|NSA warrantless wiretapping]] operations.<ref name="Fisher">{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/08/obama-mccain-torts-biz-beltway-cz_df_0811torts.html|title=November Election A Lawyer's Delight|author=Daniel Fisher|publisher=Forbes Magazine|date=August 11, 2008|accessdate=January 11, 2009}}</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=April 27, 2008}} {{cite web |title=The IRC Welcomes New U.S. Law on Congo |date=January 5, 2007 |url=http://www.theirc.org/news/the-irc-welcomes-new-us-law.html |publisher=International Rescue Committee |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</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=November 15, 2007 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/feingold-obama-go-after-corporate-jet-travel-2007-11-15.html 15, 2007.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} {{cite news |first=Nathaniel |last=Weixel |title=Lawmakers Press FEC on Bundling Regulation |date=December 5, 2007 |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/lawmakers-press-fec-on-bundling-regulation-2007-12-05.html |work=The Hill |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} 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=September 24, 2007 |publisher=Federal Election Commission |url=http://www.fec.gov/press/press2007/20070924travel.shtml |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</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=January 31, 2007 |publisher=The New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/01/31/cq_2213.html |work=CQPolitics.com |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} {{cite web |first=110th Congress, 1st Session |last=U.S. Senate |title=S. 453, Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007 |date=January 31, 2007 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN00453: |publisher=Thomas |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} See also: {{cite news |title=Honesty in Elections |date=January 31, 2007 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/opinion/31wed1.html |work=The New York Times |format=editorial |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</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=February 7, 2007 |publisher=The Times (Munster, Indiana) |url=http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/02/07/news/illiana/doc65cc98d8dc6506b28625727b0011edb5.txt |work=Medill News Service |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} "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=January 30, 2007 |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN00433: |publisher=Thomas |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref> neither of which has been signed into law.

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=October 1, 2007 |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=April 27, 2008}} See also: {{cite news |first=Philip |last=Dine |title=Bond Calls for Review of Military Discharges |date=December 23, 2007 |url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/special/srlinks.nsf/story/2E7CC823AD55667B862573A7007D12A2?OpenDocument |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</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=September 12, 2007 |url=http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002583189.html |work=CQ Today |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref><ref name=ObamaSchiff>{{cite web |title=Obama, Schiff Provision to Create Nuclear Threat Reduction Plan Approved |date=December 20, 2007 |url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/071220-obama_schiff_pr/ |publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</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=August 2, 2007 |url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/070802-senate_passes_o_1/ |publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} {{wayback|url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/070802-senate_passes_o_1/}}</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=December 9, 2006 |title=Committee Assignments |accessdate=April 27, 2008 |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 news |title=Obama Gets New Committee Assignments |date=November 15, 2006 |publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office |url=http://obama.senate.gov/news/061115-obama_gets_new/ |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</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=December 21, 2007 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article3080794.ece |work=Sunday Times (UK) |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</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 the Palestinian National Authority|President]] of the [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian Authority]], 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=April 27, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Chuck |last=Goudie |title=Obama Meets with Arafat's Successor |date=January 12, 2006 |url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=3806933 |work=WLS-TV |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Obama Slates Kenya for Fraud |date=August 28, 2006 |url=http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1989646,00.html |work=News24.com |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Wamalwa |title=Envoy Hits at Obama Over Graft Remark |date=September 2, 2006 |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=October 10, 2007 |work=The Standard (Nairobi) |accessdate=April 27, 2008}} {{cite news |first=Vincent |last=Moracha |coauthors=Mangoa Mosota |title=Leaders Support Obama on Graft Claims |date=September 4, 2006 |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=October 7, 2007 |work=The Standard (Nairobi) |accessdate=April 27, 2008}}</ref>{{clear}}

==2008 presidential campaign==
{{main|United States presidential election, 2008|Barack Obama presidential primary campaign, 2008|Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008}}
[[File:Flickr Obama Springfield 01.jpg|thumb|right|Obama stands on stage with his wife and two daughters just before announcing his presidential candidacy in [[Springfield]], [[Illinois]], Feb. 10, 2007.]]
On February 10, 2007, Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States in front of the [[Old State Capitol State Historic Site (Illinois)|Old State Capitol]] building in [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]], [[Illinois]].<ref name=ChicagoTribune_Pearson_20070210>{{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=February 10, 2007|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}</ref><ref name=BBC20070210>{{cite news|title=Obama Launches Presidential Bid|date=February 10, 2007|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6349081.stm|work=BBC News|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref><ref name=YouTube20070210/> 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 name=YouTube20070210>{{cite news|title=Presidential Campaign Announcement|format=video|date=February 10, 2007|publisher=YouTube.com|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdJ7Ad15WCA&feature=channel_page|work=BarackObamadotcom|accessdate=January 29, 2009}}</ref> Throughout the campaign, Obama 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]].<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=April 14, 2008}} See also:
*{{cite book|last=Thomas|first=Evan|authorlink=Evan Thomas|title=A Long Time Coming|publisher=[[PublicAffairs]]|year=2009|location=New York|page=74|isbn=9781586486075}}
*{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Falcone|title=Obama's 'One Thing'|date=December 21, 2007|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/obamas-one-thing/|work=The New York Times|accessdate=April 14, 2008}}</ref>

[[File:obama08acceptance.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Obama delivers [[Barack Obama election victory speech, 2008|his presidential election victory speech]] in [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]].]]

A large number of candidates entered the [[Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008#January|Democratic Party presidential primaries]]. The field narrowed to a duel between Obama and Senator [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] after early contests, with the race remaining close throughout the primary process but with Obama gaining a steady lead in [[pledged delegate]]s due to better long-range planning, superior fundraising, dominant organizing in caucus states, and better exploitation of delegate allocation rules.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1738331,00.html |title=The Five Mistakes Clinton Made |author=Tumulty, Karen |work=Time |date=May 8, 2008 |accessdate=November 11, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/us/politics/08recon.html |title=The Long Road to a Clinton Exit |author=Baker, Peter and Rutenberg, Jim |work=The New York Times |date=June 8, 2008 |accessdate=November 29, 2008}}</ref> On June 3, with all states counted, Obama was named 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=June 4, 2008|accessdate=June 6, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23809081-23109,00.html|title=Obama clinches nomination|work=Herald Sun|location=Australia|date=June 4, 2008|accessdate=June 6, 2008|author=John Whitesides in Washington}}</ref> and delivered a victory speech in St. Paul, Minnesota. Clinton ended her campaign and endorsed him on June 7.<ref>{{cite news|author=Nagourney, Adam and Jeff Zeleny|title=Obama Clinches Nomination|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/us/politics/04cnd-campaign.html|work=New York Times|date=June 4, 2008|accessdate=June 4, 2008}}</ref>

[[File:President George W. Bush and Barack Obama meet in Oval Office.jpg|thumb|right|Obama meets with 43rd President George W. Bush in the [[Oval Office]] on November 10, 2008.]]

Obama proceeded to focus on the general election campaign against Senator [[John McCain]], the presumptive [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee, in the lead up to the [[2008 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]]. He announced on August 23, 2008, that he had selected [[Delaware]] Senator [[Joe Biden]] as his vice presidential running mate.<ref>{{cite news|accessdate=September 20, 2008|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/23/MNMK12H628.DTL&hw=Obama+picks+Biden+for+veep&sn=001&sc=1000|author=Nagourney, Adam and Jeff Zeleny|agency=New York Times|date=August 23, 2008|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}}</ref> At the convention, held August 25 to August 28 in Denver, Colorado, Hillary Clinton called for her delegates and supporters to endorse Obama, and she and Bill Clinton gave convention speeches in support of Obama.<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=August 27, 2008|accessdate=August 27, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28DEMSDAY.html?pagewanted=all|title=Obama Wins Nomination as Biden and Bill Clinton Rally the Party|publisher=The New York Times|author=Nagourney, Adam|date=August 27, 2008|accessdate=August 27, 2008}}</ref> Obama delivered his acceptance speech to over 75,000 supporters and presented his policy goals; the speech was viewed by over 38 million people worldwide.<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=August 29, 2008|accessdate=August 29, 2008}}</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=August 29, 2008|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}</ref>

During both the primary process and the general election, Obama's campaign set numerous fundraising records, particularly in the quantity of small donations.<ref name=VOA_Malone_20070702>{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Malone|title=Obama Fundraising Suggests Close Race for Party Nomination|date=July 2, 2007|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-07/2007-07-02-voa52.cfm|work=Voice of America|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref><ref name=Politico_Cummings_20070926>{{cite news|first=Jeanne|last=Cummings|title=Small Donors Rewrite Fundraising Handbook|date=September 26, 2007|url=http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=3ECB3515-3048-5C12-004D622CB6F4E214|work=Politico|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}
</ref><ref name=CQPolitics_Cadei_20080221>{{cite news|first=Emily|last=Cadei|title=Obama Outshines Other Candidates in January Fundraising|date=February 21, 2008|url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002674309|work=CQ Politics|accessdate=February 24, 2008}}</ref> On June 19, 2008, 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.<ref name=Bloomberg_Salant_20080619>{{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 L.P.|Bloomberg]]|date=June 19, 2008|accessdate=June 19, 2008}}</ref>

After McCain was nominated as the Republican candidate, three [[United States presidential election debates|presidential debates]] were held between the contenders spanning September and October 2008.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=July 6, 2008|url=http://www.debates.org/pages/news_111907.html|title=Commission on Presidential Debates Announces Sites, Dates, Formats and Candidate Selection Criteria for 2008 General Election|publisher=[[Commission on Presidential Debates]]|date=November 19, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|accessdate=July 6, 2008|url=http://www.courant.com/topic/|title=Gun Ruling Reverberates|work=[[The Hartford Courant]]|date=June 27, 2008}}</ref> In November, Obama won the presidency with 52.9% of the [[Election|popular vote]] to McCain's 45.7%,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html|title=General Election: McCain vs. Obama|accessdate=2009-02-20|publisher=Real Clear Politics}}</ref> and 365 [[Electoral College (United States)|electoral votes]] to 173,<ref>{{cite news|publisher=MSNBC|accessdate=2009-02-20|date=November 4, 2008|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27531033/|title=Barack Obama elected 44th president|author=Johnson, Alex}}</ref><ref name=CNNelectionresults>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/president/|title=CNN Electoral Map Calculator—Election Center 2008|publisher=CNN.com|date=2008|accessdate=December 14, 2008}}</ref> to become the first [[African American]]<ref>{{cite news|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=November 5, 2008|accessdate=November 5, 2008}}{{cite news|accessdate=November 5, 2008|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05elect.html?pagewanted=all|title=Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls|first=Adam|last=Nagourney|date=November 4, 2008|work=[[The New York Times]]}}{{cite news|accessdate=November 5, 2008|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/election.president/index.html|title=Obama: 'This is your victory'|publisher=CNN|date=November 5, 2008}}{{cite news|accessdate=|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2008/nov/05/nation/na-assess5|title=White Americans play major role in electing the first black president|first=Peter|last=Wallsten|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 5, 2008}}</ref> to be elected president. Obama delivered [[Barack Obama election victory speech, 2008|his victory speech]] before thousands of supporters in Chicago's [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]].<ref name="independent1">{{cite news|accessdate=November 5, 2008|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|work=The Independent|location=UK|date=November 5, 2008|last=Johnson|first=Wesley}}</ref>

==Presidency==
{{Infobox President styles
|image=[[Image:Seal Of The President Of The Unites States Of America.svg|75px]]
|name=Barack Obama
|dipstyle= The Hon. Barack Obama, President of the United States of America
|offstyle= President Obama
|altstyle= Mr. President
}}
{{main|Presidency of Barack Obama}}
{{seealso|Confirmations of Barack Obama's Cabinet}}
The [[inauguration of Barack Obama]] as the 44th president, and Joe Biden as vice president, took place on January 20, 2009. In his first few days in office Obama issued executive orders and presidential memoranda reversing President Bush's ban on federal funding to foreign establishments that allow abortions (known as the [[Mexico City Policy]] and referred to by critics as the "Global Gag Rule"),<ref>{{cite news|first=Josh|last=Gerstein|coauthors=|title=Obama: End Abortion 'Politicization'|date=January 24, 2009|publisher=Politico.com|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17898.html}}</ref> changed procedures to promote disclosure under the [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|Freedom of Information Act]],<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Doyle|coauthors=|title=Obama restores some of the 'Freedom' to FOIA|date=January 23, 2009|publisher=McClatchy Newspapers|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/60661.html|work=|pages=|accessdate=January 24, 2009}}</ref> directed the U.S. military to develop plans to withdraw troops from [[Iraq War|Iraq]],<ref>{{cite news|first=Anne|last=Gearan|coauthors=Lolita C. Baldor|title=Obama asks Pentagon for responsible Iraq drawdown|date=January 22, 2009|agency=Associated Press|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-8301804,00.html|work=The Guardian|pages=|accessdate=January 24, 2009}}</ref> and reduced the secrecy given to presidential records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/ExecutiveOrderPresidentialRecords/|title=Executive Order—Presidential Records|accessdate=2009-01-22}}</ref> He also issued orders closing [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp]] "as soon as practicable and no later than" January 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/washington/22gitmo.html |title=Obama Orders Halt to Prosecutions at Guantánamo|last=Glaberson|first=William|date=January 21, 2009|work=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=February 3, 2009}}</ref>

The [[first 100 days of Barack Obama's presidency]] included his signing into law a $787 billion [[American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act_of_2009|economic stimulus package]] on February 17, 2009, aimed at helping the economy recover from the [[Late 2000s recession|deepening recession]]. The bill included increased federal spending for [[health care]], [[infrastructure]], education, various tax breaks and [[tax incentive|incentives]], and direct assistance to individuals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usbudgetwatch.org/stimulus|title=Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Stimulus Watch}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/17/obama.stimulus.remarks/|title=Obama's remarks on signing the stimulus plan|accessdate=2009-02-17|publisher=Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc}}</ref> Although Obama made a high-profile visit to Capitol Hill to engage with Congressional Republicans, the bill ultimately passed largely on a party-line vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/13/stimulus/index.html/|title=Stimulus package en route to Obama's desk|accessdate=2009-03-29|publisher=Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc}}</ref>

On February 18, 2009 he announced that the U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan would be boosted by 17,000. In the announcement, Obama asserted that the increase was necessary to stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, which has not received the strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently requires. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25074581-2703,00.html|title=Obama launches Afghanistan surge|agency=The Australian|date=February 19, 2009}}</ref> On February 27, 2009, Obama declared that combat operations would end in Iraq within 18 months. Obama stated in his remarks to Marines who were about to deploy to Afghanistan, "Let me say this as plainly as I can: By August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end." <ref>{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|first=Ben|last=Feller|url=http://www.detnews.com/article/20090228/POLITICS/902280332/Obama+sets+firm+Iraq+withdrawal|title=Obama sets firm withdrawal timetable for Iraq|work=The Detroit News|location=CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.|date=2009-02-27|accessdate=2009-03-03}}</ref>

==Political positions==
{{Main|Political positions of Barack Obama}}

A method that some [[Political science|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=March 28, 2004|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=June 7, 2008}}</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=September 20, 2008}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.acuratings.org/2006senate.htm|title=2006 U.S. Senate Votes|publisher=American Conservative Union|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.acuratings.org/2007senate.htm|title=2007 U.S. Senate Votes|publisher=American Conservative Union|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}</ref> and a lifetime average liberal rating of 90% from the ADA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2005.pdf|format=PDF|title=ADA's 2005 Congressional Voting Record|publisher=Americans for Democratic Action|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2006.pdf|format=PDF|title=ADA's 2006 Congressional Voting Record|publisher=Americans for Democratic Action|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2007.pdf|format=PDF|title=ADA's 2007 Congressional Voting Record|publisher=Americans for Democratic Action|accessdate=September 20, 2008}}</ref>

[[File:ObamaAbingtonPA.JPG|right|thumb|Obama campaigning in [[Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Abington, Pennsylvania]], October 2008]]

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=June 1, 2005|url=http://www.washingtonspectator.com/articles/20050601obama_1.cfm|work=Washington Spectator|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</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=September 12, 2005|url=http://www.acesse.com/cache.php?id=412653&q=clinton%20global%20initiative|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=March 12, 2009}}</ref> Shortly before announcing his presidential campaign, Obama said he supports [[universal health care]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nedra|last=Pickler|title=Obama Calls for Universal Health Care within Six Years|date=January 25, 2007|publisher=Associated Press via ''Union-Tribune'' (San Diego)|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20070125-1240-democrats-healthcare.html|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref> He has proposed rewarding 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=November 20, 2007|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=3894699|publisher=ABC News|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref>

On taxation, his plan would eliminate taxes for [[senior citizen]]s with incomes of less than $50,000 a year, raise income taxes for those making over $250,000, raise the capital gains and dividends taxes,<ref>{{cite news|title=Study:Bush tax cuts favor wealthy|date=August 13, 2004|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/16/politics/main636398.shtml|publisher=CBS|accessdate=April 5, 2008}}</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=September 18, 2007|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/18/obama.taxplan/|publisher=CNN|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</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=September 18, 2007|url=http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/events/obama.cfm|publisher=Tax Policy Center|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Obama Portrait 2006.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Barack Obama giving a speech at the [[University of Southern California]] in support of a [[California Proposition 87 (2006)|proposition]] to fund [[alternative energy]] research]]

For environment, 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=October 9, 2007|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/us/politics/09obama.html|work=The New York Times|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</ref> Obama proposed that all pollution credits must be auctioned, with no [[grandfather clause|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=April 20, 2008|format=PDF}}</ref>

In foreign affairs, Obama was an early opponent of the [[George W. Bush]] administration's [[2003 invasion of Iraq|policies on Iraq]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Strausberg, Chinta|date=September 26, 2002|work=[[Chicago Defender]]|page=1|title=Opposition to war mounts|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-220062931.html|format=paid archive|accessdate=February 3, 2008}}</ref> On October 2, 2002, the day President Bush and 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=October 2, 2002|title=President, House Leadership Agree on Iraq Resolution|publisher=[[Executive Office of the President of the United States|The White House]]|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021002-7.html|accessdate=February 17, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Tackett, Michael|date=October 3, 2002|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=February 3, 2008}}</ref> Obama addressed the first high-profile Chicago [[Protests against the Iraq War|anti-Iraq War rally]],<ref>{{cite news|author=Glauber, Bill|date=October 3, 2003|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=February 3, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Strausberg, Chinta|date=October 3, 2002|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=October 28, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Bryant, Greg|date=October 2, 2002|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=February 3, 2008}} {{cite web|author=Katz, Marilyn|date=October 2, 2007|title=Five Years Since Our First Action|publisher=Chicagoans Against War & Injustice|url=http://www.noiraqwar-chicago.org/?p=127|accessdate=February 17, 2008}} {{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=October 3, 2002|accessdate=October 28, 2008}} Mendell (2007), pp. 172–177.</ref> and spoke out against the war.<ref>{{cite news|author=Obama, Barack|date=October 2, 2002|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=February 3, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=McCormick, John|date=October 3, 2007|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=October 28, 2008}} {{cite news|author=Pallasch, Abdon M.|date=October 3, 2007|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=October 28, 2008}}</ref> He addressed another anti-war rally in March 2003 and told the crowd that "it's not too late" to stop the war.<ref>{{cite news|author=Ritter, Jim|date=March 17, 2003|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=February 3, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Office of the Press Secretary|date=March 16, 2003|title=President Bush: Monday "Moment of Truth" for World on Iraq|publisher=The White House|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/16/sprj.irq.main/index.html|accessdate=February 17, 2008}} {{cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=March 17, 2003|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=February 3, 2008}}</ref>

Although Obama had previously said he wanted all U.S. troops out of Iraq within 16 months of becoming president, after he won the primary, he said he might change or refine plans as further developments unfold.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/2243536/US-election-Barack-Obama-wobbles-on-withdrawing-Iraq-troops.html US election: Barack Obama wobbles on withdrawing Iraq troops], telegraph.co.uk, July 4, 2008</ref> In November 2006, he 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=November 20, 2006|url=http://www.thechicagocouncil.org/hottopics_details.php?hottopics_id=52|publisher=Chicago Council on Global Affairs|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</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=March 2, 2007|url=http://obama.senate.gov/speech/070302-aipac_policy_fo/index.php|publisher=Barack Obama U.S. Senate Office|accessdate=January 30, 2008}} ({{wayback|url=http://obama.senate.gov/speech/070302-aipac_policy_fo/index.php}}) 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=September 25, 2004|publisher=Chicago Tribune|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/699578571.html?dids=699578571:699578571&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</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=September 22, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/us/politics/01cnd-obama.html?pagewanted=all |title=Obama Pledges 'Aggressive' Iran Diplomacy|author=Gordon, Michael R. and Zeleny, Jeff|work=The New York Times|date=November 2, 2007|accessdate=June 17, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/us/politics/24transcript.html?pagewanted=all|title=Transcript of fourth Democratic debate|work=The New York Times|date=July 24, 2007|accessdate=June 17, 2008}}</ref> In August 2007, Obama remarked that "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=August 1, 2007|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6926663.stm|work=BBC News|accessdate=January 14, 2008}} 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=August 1, 2007|url=http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.event&event_id=269510|work=Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars|accessdate=January 30, 2008}} 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=July 8, 2007|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/08/news/qaeda.php|work=International Herald Tribune|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</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 make it less necessary to have [[intercontinental ballistic missile]]s on high-alert status.<ref>{{cite video|people=Barack Obama|date2=October 22, 2007|title=Obama-Caucus4Priorities|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o84PE871BE|format=flv|publisher=Obama '08|accessdate=May 18, 2008}}</ref>

Obama has 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=December 27, 2005|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/26/AR2005122600547.html|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=January 14, 2008}} {{cite news|first=Jim|last=Doyle|title=Tens of Thousands Rally for Darfur|date=May 1, 2006|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/05/01/MNGFBIIFOA1.DTL|work=San Francisco Chronicle|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</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=May 17, 2007|work=San Francisco Chronicle|url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/05/17/politics/p171906D95.DTL|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}; {{cite news|first=Barack|last=Obama|title=Hit Iran Where It Hurts|date=August 30, 2007|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/08/30/2007-08-30_hit_iran_where_it_hurts.html 30, 2007_hit_iran_where_it_hurts.html|work=New York Daily News|accessdate=January 14, 2008}}</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, in his view, the renewal of American military, diplomatic, and moral leadership in the world. Saying that "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=January 14, 2008}}</ref>

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

In a 2006 interview, Obama highlighted the diversity of his extended family: "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=October 18, 2006|work=The Oprah Winfrey Show|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</ref> Obama has seven half-siblings from his Kenyan father's family, six of them living, and a half-sister with whom he was raised, [[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=September 9, 2007|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/familytree/545462,BSX-News-wotrees09.stng|work=Chicago Sun-Times|accessdate=June 24, 2008}} See also: {{cite web|url=http://www.suntimes.com/images/cds/special/family_tree.html|title=Interactive Family Tree|date=September 9, 2007|work=Chicago Sun-Times|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</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=September 9, 2007|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/familytree/545449,BSX-News-wotreeee09.stng|work=Chicago Sun-Times|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</ref> until her death on November 2, 2008<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/obama.grandma/index.html|title=Obama's grandmother dies after battle with cancer|publisher=CNN|accessdate=November 4, 2008|date= November 3, 2008}}</ref> just two days before his election to the Presidency. 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, 2004), 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=March 2, 2007|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/politics/bal-te.obama02mar02,0,3453027.story|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070930033339/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/politics/bal-te.obama02mar02,0,3453027.story|archivedate=2007-09-30|work=Baltimore Sun|accessdate=June 24, 2008}} {{cite news|first=Mary|last=Jordan|title=Tiny Irish Village Is Latest Place to Claim Obama as Its Own|date=May 13, 2007|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/12/AR2007051201551.html|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=June 24, 2008}} {{cite news|title=Obama's Family Tree Has a Few Surprises|date=September 8, 2007|publisher=CBS 2 (Chicago)|url=http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/Barack.Obama.family.2.339709.html|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=June 24, 2008}}</ref> Obama's great-uncle served in the [[89th Division (United States)|89th Division]] that overran [[Ohrdruf forced labor camp|Ohrdruf]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-07-24-1654309354_x.htm|publisher= USATODAY.com|date=July 24, 2008|author=Johnson, Carla K., Associated Press Writer|title=Obama's great-uncle recalls liberating Nazi camp|accessdate=2009-03-12}}</ref> the first Nazi camp liberated by U.S. troops during World War II.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10006140|title=The 89th Infantry Division|publisher=United States Holocaust Memorial Museum|accessdate=2009-03-12}}</ref>

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=March 31, 2008|work=Newsweek|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/128633|accessdate=November 6, 2008}}</ref> Besides his native English, Obama speaks [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] at the conversational level, which he learned during his four childhood years in Jakarta.<ref>{{cite web|title=Obama's Indonesian Redux|url=http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=1025|author=Zimmer, Benjamin|year=2009|accessdate=2009-03-12|publisher=Language Log}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Obama: Saya Kangen Nasi Goreng, Bakso, dan Rambutan|url=http://cetak.kompas.com/read/xml/2008/11/26/00223862/obama.saya.kangen.nasi.goreng.bakso.dan.rambutan}}</ref> He 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=June 1, 2007|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/01/us/politics/01hoops.html|work=The New York Times|accessdate=April 28, 2008}} See also: {{cite news|title=The Love of the Game|format=video|date=April 15, 2008|publisher=YouTube (BarackObama.com)|url=http://www.hbo.com/realsports/stories/2008/episode.133.s1.html|work=HBO: Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}</ref>

[[File:BarackObama-Basketball.JPEG|left|thumb|upright|Obama playing basketball with U.S. military at [[Camp Lemonier]], [[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=February 6, 2007|publisher=YouTube|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9GqdzQeCz0|work=Combined Joint Task Force—Horn of Africa|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}</ref>]]

In June 1989, Obama met [[Michelle Obama|Michelle Robinson]] 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|publisher=The Daily Princetonian|url=http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2005/12/07/14049|date=December 7, 2005|accessdate=February 9, 2009}}</ref> Assigned for three months as Obama's adviser at the firm, Robinson joined him at group social functions, but declined his initial requests 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|author=Fornek, Scott|title=Michelle Obama: 'He Swept Me Off My Feet'|date=October 3, 2007|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/585261,CST-NWS-wedding03.stng|work=Chicago Sun-Times|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}</ref> The couple's first daughter, 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=July 4, 2008|accessdate=July 10, 2008|publisher=[[The Politico]]|author=Martin, Jonathan}}</ref> followed by a second daughter, Natasha ("Sasha"), in 2001.<ref>Obama (1995, 2004), 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=April 28, 2008}}</ref> The Obama daughters attended the private [[University of Chicago Laboratory Schools]]. When they moved to Washington, D.C., in January 2009, the girls started at the private [[Sidwell Friends School]].<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/22/america/Obama-School.php "Obamas choose private Sidwell Friends School"], 'International Herald Tribune'', November 22, 2008</ref>

Applying the proceeds of a book deal, the family moved in 2005 from a [[Hyde Park, Chicago]] condominium to a $1.6 million house in neighboring [[Kenwood, Chicago]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Zeleny|title=The first time around: Sen. Obama's freshman year|date=December 24, 2005|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-051224obama,0,1779783,full.story|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}</ref> The purchase of an adjacent lot and sale of part of it to Obama by the wife of developer, campaign donor and friend [[Tony Rezko]] attracted media attention because of Rezko's subsequent indictment and conviction on political corruption charges that were unrelated to Obama.<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=December 17, 2006|accessdate=June 10, 2008|last=Slevin|first=Peter}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24973282/|title=Rezko found guilty in corruption case|accessdate=June 24, 2008|date=June 4, 2008|agency=Associated Press|publisher=MSNBC.com|last=Robinson|first=Mike}}</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=December 7, 2007|url=http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0712/gallery.candidates.moneymag/5.html|publisher=CNNMoney.com|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}<br/>See also:{{cite news|first=Zachary A|last=Goldfarb|title=Measuring Wealth of the '08 Candidates|date=March 24, 2007|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/24/AR2007032400305.html|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}</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=April 17, 2008|work=The New York Times|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}</ref>

Obama is a [[Christianity|Christian]] whose religious views developed 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 [[atheism|atheist]]" by the time his parents met, and his stepfather as "a man who saw religion as not particularly useful". Obama explained 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=October 23, 2006|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1546579,00.html|work=Time|accessdate=April 28, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060628-call_to_renewal/|title='Call to Renewal' Keynote Address|accessdate=June 16, 2008|last=Obama|first=Barack|date=June 28, 2006|work=Barack Obama: U.S. Senator for Illinois (website)}}</ref> He was baptized at the [[Trinity United Church of Christ]] in 1988 and was an active member there for two decades.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/30/america/30obama.php?page=2|title=Barack Obama's search for faith|first=Jodi|last=Kantor|date=April 30, 2007|publisher=International Herald Tribune}} April 30, 2007</ref><ref name=Time_Obama_20061016>{{cite journal|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1546579,00.html|title=My Spiritual Journey|first=Barack|last=Obama|date=October 23, 2006|journal=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> Obama resigned from Trinity during the Presidential campaign after [[Jeremiah Wright controversy|controversial statements]] made by Rev. [[Jeremiah Wright]] became public.<ref> {{cite news|title=Obama's church choice likely to be scrutinized|agency=Associated Press|date=November 17, 2008|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27775757/|publisher=[[msnbc.com]]|accessdate=2009-01-20}}</ref>

Obama has tried to [[Smoking cessation|quit smoking]] several times,<ref name="reuters-smoking"/> and said he will not smoke in the White House.<ref name="reuters-smoking">{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE4B61GF20081207|title=Obama says he won't be smoking in White House|date=December 7, 2008|accessdate=2009-20-21|work=Reuters|editor=Elsner, Alan}}</ref>

==Cultural and political image==
[[File:Five Presidents 2009.jpg|thumb|43rd President [[George W. Bush]] invited then-President-Elect Barack Obama and former Presidents [[George H. W. Bush]], [[Bill Clinton]], and [[Jimmy Carter]] to a meeting in the [[Oval Office]] on January 7, 2009.]]
{{main|Public image of Barack Obama}}

Obama's family history, early life and upbringing, and [[Ivy League]] education 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=April 7, 2008}} See also: {{cite news|first=Janny|last=Scott|title=A Member of a New Generation, Obama Walks a Fine Line|date=December 28, 2007|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/28/america/obama.php|work=International Herald Tribune|accessdate=April 7, 2008}}</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 "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=August 19, 2007|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/1322008241.html?dids=1322008241:1322008241&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT|work=Newsday|accessdate=April 7, 2008}}</ref> 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=October 4, 2007|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=April 7, 2008}} See also: {{cite news|first=Toby|last=Harnden|title=Barack Obama is JFK Heir, Says Kennedy Aide|date=October 15, 2007|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565992/Barack-Obama-is-JFK-heir%2C-says-Kennedy-aide.html|work=Daily Telegraph|accessdate=April 7, 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Weekly Address (2009-01-24).ogv|left|thumb|Obama presents his first weekly address as President of the United States, discussing the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]].]]

Obama is frequently referred to as an exceptional [[orator]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/world/a-classic-orator-obama-learnt-from-the-masters-20081129-6nf1.html|title=Obama: Oratory and originality|last=Holmes|first=Stephanie|date=November 30, 2008|accessdate=December 11, 2008|publisher=The Age}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/mar2008/sb2008033_156351.htm|title=How to Inspire People Like Obama Does|last=Gallo|first=Carmine|date=March 3, 2008|accessdate=2009-02-21|work=Business Week}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com/living/article/551538|title=New emotion dubbed 'elevation|date=December 11, 2008|publisher=[[Toronto Star]]|language=English|accessdate=December 11, 2008}}</ref> During his pre-inauguration transition period and continuing into his presidency, Obama has delivered a series of weekly Internet video addresses <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/user/ChangeDotGov YouTube - ChangeDotGov's Channel]</ref> similar to [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]'s famous [[fireside chats]] to explain his policies and actions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0607517/|title=News from Studio Briefing|accessdate=2009-03-10|date=November 17, 2008|publisher=Internet Movie Database}}</ref>

According to the [[Gallup poll|Gallup Daily Poll]], during his [[First 100 days of Barack Obama's presidency|first 100 days in office as president]], Obama received approval ratings in the mid-60s, ranging from 59% to 69%. He concluded his first 100 days with a 65% approval rating.<ref>http://www.gallup.com/poll/118054/100-Days-Obama-Approval-Broad-Deep.aspx</ref>

Obama's international appeal has been described as a defining factor for his public image.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-06-12-poll_N.htm|work=USA Today|title=World poll: Obama more likely to 'do the right thing'|date=June 12, 2008|accessdate=2009-03-10|author=Page, Susan}}</ref> Polls show strong support for Obama in other countries,<ref>{{cite news|accessdate=|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/09/2360240.htm?section=world|title=World wants Obama as president: poll|agency=Reuters|date=September 9, 2008|work=ABC News|location=Australia}}</ref> and he has met with prominent foreign figures including then-[[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|British Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]],<ref>{{cite press release|accessdate=|url=http://obama.senate.gov/press/050823-obama_to_visit/|title=Obama to visit nuclear, biological weapons destruction facilities in former Soviet Union|date=August 24, 2005|publisher=Obama.senate.gov}}</ref> [[Italy]]'s [[Democratic Party (Italy)|Democratic Party]] leader and then [[Mayor]] of [[Rome]] [[Walter Veltroni]],<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 [[President of France|French President]] [[Nicolas Sarkozy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/blogs/certainideasofeurope/2008/02/sarkozy_obama_and_mccain.cfm|type=|title=Sarkozy, Obama and McCain|work=[[The Economist]]|last=Pedder|first=Sophie|date=February 20, 2008|accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref>

According to a May 2009 poll conducted by [[Harris Interactive]] for [[France 24]] and the [[International Herald Tribune]], Obama was rated as the most popular world leader, as well as the one figure most people would pin their hopes on for pulling the world out of this economic downturn.<ref>http://www.france24.com/en/20090529-obama-remains-popular-symbol-hope-harris-interactive-poll-world-leaders</ref>

Obama won [[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album|Best Spoken Word Album]] [[Grammy Award]]s for abridged [[audiobook]] versions of ''[[Dreams from My Father]]'' in February 2006 and for ''[[The Audacity of Hope]]'' in February 2008.<ref>{{cite news|author=Goodman, Dean|date=February 10, 2008|title=Obama or Clinton? Grammys go for Obama|publisher=Reuters|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSN0852813420080210|accessdate=November 24, 2008}}</ref> His "[[Yes We Can]]" speech, which artists independently set to music, was viewed by 10 million people on [[YouTube]] in the first month,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article3491460.ece|title=Celebrities join YouTube revolution|last=Strange|first=Hannah|date=March 5, 2008|work=The Times (UK)|accessdate=December 18, 2008}}</ref> and received an [[Emmy Award]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/soundboard/2008/06/emmys-give-knuc.html|title=Emmys give knuckle bump to will.i.am; more videos on the way|last=Wappler|first=Margaret|date=June 20, 2008|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=December 18, 2008}}</ref> In December 2008, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine named Barack Obama as its [[Time Person of the Year|Person of the Year]] for his historic candidacy and election, which it described as "the steady march of seemingly impossible accomplishments".<ref>{{cite news|last=Von Drehle|first=David|title=Why History Can't Wait|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2008/personoftheyear/article/0,31682,1861543_1865068,00.html?cnn=yes|work=Person of the Year 2008|format=Cover article|publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time Magazine]]|date=December 16, 2008|accessdate=December 17, 2008}}</ref>
{{-}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
* {{cite book |last=Mendell |first=David |authorlink=David Mendell |year=2007 |title=[[Obama: From Promise to Power]] |location=New York |publisher=Amistad/[[HarperCollins]] |isbn=0-06-085820-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Obama |first=Barack |year=1995, 2004 |title=[[Dreams from My Father|Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance]] |location=New York |publisher=[[Three Rivers Press]] |isbn=1-4000-8277-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Obama |first=Barack |year=2006 |title=[[The Audacity of Hope|The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream]] |location=New York |publisher=[[Crown Publishing Group]] |isbn=0-307-23769-9}}

==Further reading==
* Curry, Jessica. "[http://www.chicagolife.net/content/politics/Barack_Obama Barack Obama: Under the Lights]", ''Chicago Life'', Fall 2004. Retrieved on January 14, 2008.
* Graff, Garrett. "[http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/mediapolitics/1836.html The Legend of Barack Obama]", ''Washingtonian'', November 1, 2006. Retrieved on January 14, 2008.
* 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 ([[Truman State University]]), [[Nova Publishers|Nova Science Publishers]], Haupauge, New York, Binding: Hardcover Pub. Date: 2005, ISBN 1-59454-360-7
* Lizza, Ryan. "[http://men.style.com/gq/features/landing?id=content_5841 Above the Fray]", ''GQ'', September 2007. Retrieved on January 14, 2008.
* 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 January 14, 2008.
* 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 January 14, 2008.
* 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 January 14, 2008.
* Zutter, Hank De. "[http://www.chicagoreader.com/obama/951208/ What Makes Obama Run?]", ''Chicago Reader'', December 8, 1995. Retrieved on January 14, 2008.

==External links==
{{Sisterlinks|author=yes|wikt=no|v=no|b=no|n=Category:Barack Obama}}
{{Spoken Wikipedia|En-Barack_Obama-article1.ogg|September 3, 2008}}
<!--
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;Official sites
* [http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president_obama/ President Barack Obama] ''official White House website''
* [http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/inaugural-address/ Full transcript and video of President Obama's inaugural address (from whitehouse.gov)]
* [http://www.barackobama.com/ U.S. presidential campaign site]
<!--
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;Site directory
* {{dmoz|Society/History/By_Region/North_America/United_States/Presidents/Obama,_Barack}}
* {{worldcat id|id=lccn-n94-112934}}
;News media
* Ongoing news coverage from the [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/americas/2008/obama_presidency/default.stm BBC News], [http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/index.html Chicago Sun-Times], [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/ Chicago Tribune], [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/barackobama The Guardian], [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/politics/administration/ Washington Post]
* {{cite news
| title = US election results map
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7697829.stm
| publisher = [[BBC News]]
}}
* {{cite news
| title = In pictures: Election result reaction
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7709830.stm
| publisher = [[BBC News]]
}}
* {{cite news
| title = In quotes: US election reaction
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7710020.stm
| publisher = [[BBC News]]
}}
* [http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSTRE4A43VA20081105 FACTBOX: Barack Obama, Democratic President-elect] (''[[Reuters]]'', November 5, 2008)
;Congressional links
{{CongLinks | congbio = o000167 | fec = S4IL00180 | opensecrets = N00009638 | votesmart = 9490 | ontheissuespath = Barack_Obama.htm | legistorm = 76/Sen_Barack_Obama.html | surge = 923 | govtrack = 400629 | findagrave =}}

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