Skip links

Barack Obama

Ever since his keynote address at the 2004 Democratic Convention, many have viewed Illinois Senator Barack Obama as the next big thing in the Democratic Party. Even though he is only halfway through his first term as a Senator, Obama is being touted as a charismatic fresh face with a capacity for leadership, and as a candidate that can overcome some of the Red State/Blue State distinctions that became so prevalent during the 2004 presidential election. His strategy has turned slightly from its original pure optimism, as Obama and his strategists are coming to grips with the fact that beating Hillary Clinton will require getting into the nitty-gritty of politicking. His presence in the Midwest, as well as his appeal to college-age, politically active Democrats, could be the factors that turn the tide in his favor.

Biography

Born in Hawaii to multi-racial parents, Obama has had a unique path to his campaign for the presidency. He was the first black editor of the Harvard Law Review, but focused on civil rights law instead of the corporate world. He was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1997, and served until his campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2004, in which he destroyed Republican Alan Keyes by nearly 50 points.