Throughout­ the first half deca­de of the 21st hundred , the Republican Party control Congress and the White House . The voting populace perceived that Congress was making small progress in address upshot , however . When the 2006 Congressional elections swan around , the Democrats gain ground both the House and Senate back . To the Democrats , it was a readable authorisation : " The American people have speak intelligibly and decisively in favor of Democrats guide this country in a novel direction , " said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid [ source : Los Angeles Times ] .

As the next two yr fag on , however , the Democratic - lead Congress faced interchangeable disapproval . " Congress is not getting its work done , " criticise President George W. Bush in November 2007 , saying the House and Senate had both " ware worthful time " .

If there ’s one clear message Barack Obama desire to get across to the voter , it ’s that he represents modification . He ’s been called " the first viable black presidential candidate " . He is the Word of a black Kenyan and a white Kansan who divorced . He was raise outside of any organised religious belief , schooled in Indonesia and admitted to using drugs as a untested human . He beat Al Franken and George Carlin , among others , receive the 2006GRAMMY ® Awardfor " Best Spoken Word Album " for the audio interpretation of his al-Qur’an , " Dreams from My Father " .

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Obama has zeroed in on Americans ' fatigue with Congress in recent years , but he assert that America is not divided between Republicans and Democrats , but rather by old political rivalries . He enunciate he ’s the campaigner who can unite the U.S. government . " It ’s time for a young generation of leaders , because onetime political relation just wo n’t do , " he told a gang at the University of Denver on Jan. 30 , 2008 .

This message attracted support in many quarters among American political grouping , the populace and the sensitive . Obama rank extremely high-pitched among tolerant groups , extremely blue among conservative groups . He is favor bylaborand considered unfriendly by business . wellness forethought , economical revival and an remnant to the state of war in Iraq are among his posit eminent concerns . He is fornucleardisarmament , statecraft with Iran and flow on the pro - choice side of the abortion argumentation .

So how did Obama get to this stage of his political life history ? Read on to encounter out about his life before presidential political sympathies .

Barack Obama Biography

Barack Hussein Obama Jr. was born Aug. 4 , 1961 , in Honolulu . His parents , Ann Dunham , a white Kansas native and girl of a World War II veteran , and his father , a calamitous Kenyan and son of agoatherder , conform to while enrol at the University of Hawaii . The senior Obamadivorcedhis wife and left Hawaii for Harvard . He finally moved back to Kenya , where he influence as an economic expert and oil consultant .

His mother remarry and moved untried Barack to her 2nd husband ’s household in Indonesia . Here , he studied for two year at a local public schoolhouse . Obama ’s attendance at the Muslim - track down public schoolhouse in Indonesia subsequently became the groundwork for rumors that he is a Muslim and that the school he pay heed was amadrassa , a school that teach Islam . ( This does n’t seem to be the case ; CNN sent newsman to the school early in 2008 and report that the schoolhouse was not a madrassa [ source : New York Times ] . )

Obama recall to Hawaii and was raised by his grandparents until his female parent hark back to the United States stick to her divorce from Obama ’s stepfather . Obama attended Occidental College , a giving fine art college inLos Angeles , before transferring to Columbia University in New York . He graduated from Columbia in 1983 with a B.A. in political scientific discipline .

Obama conjoin his wife , Michelle Robinson – an early alum of Harvard Law – in 1992 . The two met at a Chicago law house where they both worked . Four years later , Obama wrote his 1996 autobiography " dream from My Father . " In it , he revealed that during his teenage and college years he experimented withmarijuanaand cocaine . When Steve Kroft from " 60 Minutes " ask if he repent make these admission fee , Obama severalise him , " No . You sleep together , I do n’t " . He begin an earnest attempt to quit smoking cigarettes in 2007 , after pledging to his wife that he would trade tonicotinegum to give out his drug abuse [ informant : ABC News ] . In 1999 , his first daughter Malia was bear . His second girl , Natasha , come in 2001 .

In addition to practicing legal philosophy , Obama also help as a senior lector on law at the University of Chicago Law School [ source : Chicago Sun - Times ] . In gain to " Dreams from My Father , " Obama also published the bestseller " The Audacity of Hope " in 2006 .

In 1998 , the nominee join the United Church of Christ in Chicago , after being raised out of doors of organized religion by his mother , who he ’s described as a " lonely witness for secular humanism " . During his 2008 presidential campaign , his religious views were called into enquiry . An due east - ring armour about Obama set out to circulate , pore attention on his Muslim background . The einsteinium - chain armor paints Obama as a radical Muslim and suggest that he may be a puppet of terrorist . This e - mail was categorically debunked as a false title by the onlineurban legendreference site Snopes.com . The construct was satirize on the controversial July 21 , 2008 , covert of the New Yorker magazine . A drawing off entitled " The Politics of Fear " depict a turban clad Barack turn over pounds to his militantly - dressed and afroed wife , Michelle , in the Oval Office , while an American iris burns in the fireplace beneath a portrayal of Osama bin Laden .

Read about Obama ’s political vocation on the next page .

Political Career of Barack Obama

Obama began his political life history as an Illinois body politic senator , where he served from 1997 to 2004 . He became know among Chicago political circle for using hardball political tactics . A Chicago Tribune article report that he was able to get into the Illinois Senate by challenge the veracity of nominating petitions until his competition could no longer legally be considered candidates and were criticise off the ballot .

There in office , he help the south side of Chicago , puke more than 4,000 balloting [ source : Los Angeles Times ] , include some on bills that required homicide interrogative sentence be recorded , reformation ofcampaign finance , assignation of tax credit for the poor and elimination of racial profiling [ informant : New York Times ] .

He also spoke out against the U.S. invasion of Iraq , a title that was call into interrogation during the 2008 presidential nominating speech race . Obama ’s claim was backed up , however , by the publication on his official candidate ’s site of his speech at an anti - war rally in October 2002 . Rather than fighting Iraq , Obama suppose , " Let ’s wind up the fight with Bin Laden and Al Qaeda , through effective , co-ordinated intelligence , and a closing down of the fiscal mesh that stand terrorism , and a homeland security program that affect more than color - coded word of advice . "

As a senator in the Illinois legislative assembly , Obama had a third selection beyond " Yes " or " No " – " Present . " This option allows a legislator to remain electroneutral on an issue at suffrage , side - stepping a stance . Obama was criticized by his campaign competitor Sen. Hillary Clinton ’s safari for the 129 " Present " suffrage he made from 1997 to 2004 . In 1999 , he vote present on a broadsheet that allowed juvenile offenders who committed sealed offense to be tried as adults . The upshot of this vote and others , including suffrage on abortion , allowed Clinton ’s crusade " to portray Mr. Obama as a ' verbalizer ' rather than a ' worker ' " [ author : The New York Times ] .

Obama made the jump from the state senate to U.S. Senator for Illinois when he was elected to Congress in 2004 . Since then he has serve on several Senate committee : Foreign Relations ; Health , Education , Labor and Pensions ; Homeland Security and Government Affairs ; Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations ; Veterans ' Affairs ; Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management , Government Information , Federal Services and International Security ; and Subcommittee on State , Local and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration [ source : Project Vote Smart ] .

In the Senate in 2007 , Obama voted along Democratic Party lines 97 percent of the time , about 10 percent more than the average for all popular senators [ source : The Hill ] . Of the leading Democrat candidates , he ’s miss the most vote during the 109th Congress . Obama missed 282 of the 630 total votes from Dec. 8 , 2007 , to July 28 , 2008 , or 44.8 percent . Obama ranks third in votes missed behind fellow presidential candidate Sen. John McCain ( R - AZ ) and Sen. Tim Johnson ( D - ND ) who suffered abrainhemorrhage and missed the 2007 Senate session [ source : Washington Post ] .

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Voting Scorecards of Barack Obama

Special pastime groups grade Obama ’s and other candidates ' ballot disc on key votes of business organization to their organization . Obama generally score luxuriously among group promoting civil liberties , the environment and pro - choice issues . He generally scores broken among pro - business , buttoned-down mathematical group and tax reform organizations .

TheLeague of Conservation Votersawarded Obama a course of 100 percent on seven votes it consider key to environmental policy ( such as public health , energy and financial backing ) in its 2006 National Environmental Scorecard . He received an 80 percent degree for his votes in the 110th Congress . He received an " A " grade from theGenocide Intervention Networkon his 2007 voting record related to seven key vote on issues colligate to the genocide inDarfur , Sudan . He received a " 100 , " an " A+ , " and an " 88 percent " for votes considered " supportive of the middle course of instruction " for his ballot phonograph record in 2005 , 2007 and 2008 , respectively from the progressive think tank Drum Major Institute’sTheMiddleClass.org .

task unionstend to favor Obama ’s phonograph record more than line organizations do . TheNational Federation of Independent Businessesgave Obama a 12 percent grade for his voting in the 109th Congress on issues like lower limit wage , employee wellness insurance and theDeath Tax . He received a mark of 100 percent from theAFL - CIOlabor federation [ source : San Jose Business Journal ] . His voting record in 2006 regarding votes considered key by the United States Chamber of Commerce – let in port security , in-migration and the Death Tax – received a 55 percent grade by that organization . He received a score of 94 percent for his voting platter in the 109th Congress on subject like funding foravian fluvaccine , immigration reform and voting right from the health care - relatedService Employees International Union ; for the 110th Congress , Obama receive a score of 74 percent after neglect three vote considered key bythat organization– a health maintenance funding handbill , access to jobs for Americans and a bill on kid ’s health care .

The conservativeJohn Birch Societygave Obama a score of 0 percent for his vote in the 110th Congress on Constitutional issues , including embryonicstem cellresearch , the enlargement of anti - hate crime programs and troop withdrawal from Iraq . A joint scorecard compile by the materialistic kin values organizationsFocus on the Familyand theFamily Research Councilgave Obama a 0 percent score for his vote on issues like embryonic stem cadre research , exemption of grassroots organization from lobbying reform and SCHIP health care insurance for unborn child [ germ : FRC Action ] .

On the other side , he received a 75 pct from the liberalAmericans for Democratic Actionin 2007 for issues like the lower limit salary gain , immigration reform , FISA and the flock billow in Iraq . Obama received a 100 percentage tier for his vote record on key issues of vexation fromPlanned Parenthood– sexual urge education , health care for low-down - income families and comprehensive kinsfolk planning . He received an 83 per centum grade on civil liberty issues – voting ID essential , torture , and a gay marriage amendment – from theAmerican Civil Liberties Unionfor his record in the 109th Congress .

Read about how Obama vote on some key issues on the next page .

Voting Record of Barack Obama: National Security and the Economy

Beyond grandiloquence , spin and messages , perhaps the on-key means of launch what a candidate value is his or her voting phonograph record . Here are some prize important issue that came up for a right to vote during Obama ’s terminal figure in Congress .

The Iraq War and National Security:

Economy / Government Finance :

On the next page , we ’ll see how Barack Obama voted onimmigrationand health care subject during his senatorial calling .

Voting Record of Barack Obama: Immigration and Health Care

Immigration:

Health Care:

On the next Thomas Nelson Page , we ’ll look at Barack Obama ’s voting record with regard to ethics and ethical motive question , as well as veterans ' issues .

Voting Record of Barack Obama: Ethics, Morality and Veterans

Ethics and Morality Issues:

Veterans:

On the next Sir Frederick Handley Page , we ’ll look at Sen. Obama ’s record on environmental and judiciary issues .

Environment:

Legal / Judiciary / Governance :

Throughout the 2008 elementary campaign , Obama – like his rival candidates – has revealed his presidential political program . take about what Obama says he would do as chairwoman on the next pageboy .

Presidential Agenda of Barack Obama

Obama say he specify to " make government cool down again " . Like some other campaigner , include Republican contender Mike Huckabee in 2008 and Bill Clinton in 1992 , he ’s made his case for being cool on previous - night talk shows . Obama ’s twist came when he save the Top Ten leaning on " Late Night with David Letterman " on Jan. 24 , 2008 . Obama offered his facetious " Top Ten military campaign Promises " to Late Night viewers – No . 9 : " I will double your tax money at the craps table " [ beginning : CBS ] .

Most likely this is not Obama ’s literal architectural plan to reanimate theUnited Stateseconomy . His official sitestates that his plan for economic reform will come in the course of tax easement , backing for education and technical innovation , and tax intermission for low businesses .

In summation , Obama ’s economical platform include roll back tax cuts for the moneyed Americans . Middle- and scummy - course of instruction citizen would get extra revenue enhancement credits for mortgages , higher Education Department and dependents . elder in these classes making less than $ 50,000 per class could also look forward to a complete elimination of their income taxes . He also contrive to issue more taxation rabbet checks like the ones sent out to American taxpayers by the Bush administration in 2008 [ source : Barack Obama.com ] .

Obama expects to nurture business and exercise by promoting American businesses overseas and swap agreements that lower prices without cutting American company out of competition , as well as a reduction in the self - usage taxation for small business enterprise proprietor , among other idea .

Like many other Democratic candidates , Obama has focalise on health care as a major pillar for his platform . The New York Times reports that he plans on involve all children to havehealth maintenance insuranceby repealing revenue enhancement breaks for American households with income more than $ 250,000 . He also plans on introducing legislation that makes employers pay all or some wellness upkeep cost for workers .

The saving replaced American amour in the Middle East as the major subject of concern , although warfare remained a major issue . As chair , Obama would withdraw troops from Iraq in short after taking office , yet , he says " I will finish the fight against Al Qaeda " [ source : Barack Obama.com ] . He ’s stated he would begin sop up down troops immediately once elected [ origin : The Washington Post ] . He also supports a rush in soldiery in Afghanistan , where the Taliban made a revivification during the 2008 political campaign [ reservoir : McClatchy ] .

Obama agree with Roe v. Wade , telling voters in New Hampton , Iowa , on Oct. 6 , 2007 , " A lot of people have arrived in the view that I ’ve arrived at , which is there is a moral logical implication to these issues but that the woman involved are in the best stead to make that determination " [ source : Courier - Post ] . He also believe the decision whether to utilize the destruction penalty should be left up to the states .

As for environmental issues , Obama ’s in favor of ratifying an external correspondence over environmental regulations . He ’s also number out againstdrillingin the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and in favour of federal mandate demand increases in fuel efficiency . He voted for the Fuel Economy Reform Act of 2006 . " sure as shooting , when you look at our vigour policy and environment and the prospects of climate change , we ’ve engender ta make some decisions right now , " he say in aCBS interviewin February 2007 . One decision Obama ’s in favor of is establishing a home ceiling and patronage carbon paper substitution to reduce emissions and to increase fuel economy criterion by 4 percentage per twelvemonth [ source : The Washington Post ] .

ahead of time in the subspecies for the Democratic nomination , head of whether America is ready for a black president began to go up , but Obama believe he can merge people of all races and creeds . " Unity is the great need of the minute , " Obama quote Dr. Martin Luther King during a service in pureness of King in Atlanta on Jan. 20 , 2008 [ germ : Barack Obama.com ] . Obama aims to link Republicans and Democrats and has become fond of extract the name of popular Republican prexy Ronald Reagan .

While the issue of raceway was generally kept signally far from treatment during theprimaries , Obama made civil rights issues a major part of his chopine . The candidate aver as president , he ’ll end employment compensation disparity among minorities by lead the Fair Pay Act . He has also stated he will make more use of drug courts for nonviolent offenders , expand hate criminal offense laws and reduce sentencing disparity among minorities [ germ : Barack Obama.com ] .

With regard to foreign sex act , Obama say he would assay dialogue withIranandSyria[source : NPR ] . His official site includes a foreign policy plan that targets a two - body politic accordance between Israel and Palestine as a " key diplomatic priority . " If elected , the prospect also plans to touch out toAsia , work toward " anuclearfree man , " expand the military and insulate theCIAfrom political relation [ root : Barack Obama.com ] .

In modern American political science , it takes vast marrow of money to go a successful campaign for president . learn about how Barack Obama raise money on the next page .

Fundraising of Barack Obama

Celebrity and elite benefit the prospect ’s military campaign finances at the beginning of theprimary subspecies , as well as after the candidate clench the nominating speech . On Feb. 20 , 2007 , a fundraiser was hosted in Los Angeles for Obama by DreamWorks Studio head Steven Spielberg , Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen . ticket were $ 2,300 per person , and the evening netted the campaign an estimated $ 1.3 million [ seed : AP ] . Another Hollywood - based fundraiser , hold in September 2007 by Oprah Winfrey also trade tickets for $ 2,300 per person ( this is the maximal amount an individual can bestow to a campaign by law of nature ) . This fundraiser raised around $ 3 million for the Obama presidential campaign [ source : AFP ] .

It flex out that most of Obama ’s coffers were ultimately filled by routine donors . A Cincinnati fundraiser , hosted by Ohio state of matter senator Eric Kearney on Feb. 26 , 2007 , attracted 1,000 help and give between $ 350,000 and $ 500,000 . The host was quoted as say he was impressed by " how diverse a crowd it was – whites , blacks , Latinos , Asian folks , ample and poor " [ rootage : Cincinnati Enquirer ] .

In October 2007 , his campaign announce that it had attracted 93,000 new giver contributing $ 19 million in the third fourth of that twelvemonth . The total fundraising for the campaign reached $ 74.9 million for the primaries alone , with contributions from 352,000 donors [ reservoir : Barack Obama.com ] . By the death of the class , the total contribution from October to Dec. 31 came to an additional $ 23.5 million . From Jan. 1 to Jan. 8 , 2008 , Obama ’s campaign raised $ 8 million [ source : The Washington Post ] . Throughout the month of January 2008 , Obama ’s campaign raise $ 32 million , the most raised by any prospect in the 2008 elementary race to that point . The following month , Obama broke Sen. John Kerry ’s 2004 single - month fundraising record in February 2008 after render $ 55 million in contribution , $ 20 million more than his Democratic rival Sen. Hillary Clinton drew for the same month [ source : Los Angeles Times ] .

" We continue to work up a grassroots social movement that makes us best - positioned to compete financially in the primary quill andcaucusescoming up , " wrote campaign manager David Plouffe . Much of this is generate through online contributions . From midnight of Jan. 9 to the following morning , the Obama campaign receive $ 500,000 online alone [ rootage : The Washington Post ] . From the beginning of his candidature for the popular nomination in January 2007 to April 2008 , Obama raised $ 266 million [ seed : CNN ] .

Obama also has the support of industry , although some sectors more than others . He order at or near the top of contributions invite from the pharmaceutic , entertainment , banking , reckoner , health care , investment and Internet industries . Obama also does well with donors from retreat tie-up , security and investment rig , education organisation and police business firm . He ranks near the bottom of contributions received from lobbying organizations , vegetable oil companies and the tobacco plant industry [ source : Open Secrets.org ] .

Obama ’s military campaign took a public relations hit when one of his assistant , Chicago - arena developer Tony Rezko , was arrested on Jan. 28 , 2008 , on federal charges of cabal , influence peddling and demanding kickbacks . The candidate say reporters that he planned on ridding his campaign of $ 80,000 contributed by Rezko . Obama had worked for non-profit-making grouping that had ties with Rezko ’s development company and ferment five to seven hours immediately for Rezko ’s business firm [ source : Chicago Tribune ] ; the developer had contributed and helped levy about $ 120,000 for Obama ’s 2004 Senate political campaign ; and Obama as senator wrote two letters supporting a Rezko venture . The senator reportedly gave out or give back $ 44,000 of donation from Rezko and promised another $ 40,350 would be donated to charities .

The Rezko outrage did n’t go aside so easily . A mass involving a house that Obama and his family line buy in Chicago in 2005 has get into interrogation . The seller is reported to have wanted to sell two conterminous place at once . The Obamas purchased one as their family for approximately $ 300,000 below the asking price . Rezko ’s married woman , Rita , buy the other house at the asking cost . Later , the Rezkos sold a cartoon strip of land belonging to the second property to the Obamas . There is no mention of Obama in any of the Union charges filed against Rezko .

Obama ’s and rival campaign have creative during the 2008 chief race by poke out their reach across the Atlantic and mining a antecedently neglected informant of campaign contributions : expatriates – Americans living abroad . Obama ’s wife , Michelle , hosted a fundraiser in London in October 2007 . unasked contributions from expat also came in . By Sept.18 , 2007 , Obama ’s campaign had raise $ 222,000 from Americans living abroad , compare to $ 26,430 for rival Edwards and $ 10,950 for Clinton .

In June 2008 , Obama drew critique from theMcCaincampaign after he declare he would prefer out of public financing for his presidential bid . Obama sound out in February 2008 that he would turn over taking public funding for his effort , which would both assure and limit his finances to about $ 85 million . Sen. Hillary Clintonwithdrew from the Democratic candidacy and threw her backup behind Obama , leaving his campaign to face the expectation of raising $ 200 million for the general election . Obama turn to wealthy supporters again as well as former Clinton donors [ source : The New York Times ] .

With Clinton officially suspend her campaign and throwing her free weight behind him , Barack Obama became the presumptive popular nominee . Read about presidential candidate Obama on the next varlet .

Barack Obama and the Presidential Nomination

On Tuesday , June 3 , 2008 , Sen. Barack Obama became the first black American to take the presidential nominating address for any party . Despite a substantial showing by Clinton toward the end of theprimaries , Obama gain ground the requisite 2,118 delegates ( including superdelegates ) involve for the nomination from votes in Montana and South Dakota – the last two Department of State to concur primaries .

On June 7 , 2008 , Sen. Hillary Clintonwithdrew herself from the candidacy for the 2008 Democratic nominating speech for the presidency . While she throw her reinforcement behind her former rival , some Clinton supporters had already decided they would n’t support Obama . A CBS News canvass chance that 22 percent of Clinton supporters say they planned to vote forMcCainafter Clinton ’s detachment from the backwash [ source : CBS News ] .

Although yet to be formally add with the nominating address at the Democratic National Convention in August , Obama became the presumptive presidential prospect . His competitor became presumptive Republican campaigner , Sen. John McCain . snap were fired from both campaigns across the other ’s stem . The Obama military campaign criticized McCain as an extension of the Bush / Cheney governance [ source : Los Angeles Times ] . McCain ’s encampment found unfavorable judgment in a serial publication of gaffes associated with the Obama campaign .

The defective promotion start with Obama ’s former pastor , Rev. Jeremiah Wright . While Obama ’s religious beliefs were question throughout his campaigning – including whether he is Muslim – his former pastor brought real arguing to the campaign . Video of an arguably anti - American speech made by Wright condemn mistreatment of black at the hands of the white establishment was pick up by news sources . " The government gives them the drugs , " Wright told a crowd during a sermon , " build biggerprisons , passes a three - strike police force and then wants us to sing ' God Bless America . ' No , no , no , God damn America … " [ source : ABC News ] . Obama responded with a 40 - minute address discuss the " racial stalemate " and " chasm of mistake that exists between the races " in America [ seed : The Telegraph ] . The speech caused percipient to run parallels between Obama and Martin Luther King , Jr. [ source : NY Daily News ] .

Race emerged at least twice more during Obama ’s campaign . In July 2008 , polite right leader Rev. Jesse Jackson was capture on a livemicrophoneduring a commercial-grade break on Fox & Friends , a intelligence program on which Jackson was a guest . " I need to cut his nuts off , " say Jackson of Obama , for " speaking down to black multitude " . And the McCain camp accused Obama of playing the " backwash card " after he warned elector that the Republicans would endeavor to lure them away using scare maneuver : " You have sex . He does n’t look like all those other presidents on those dollar circular , you know . He ’s risky . " Rick Davis , Sen. McCain ’s military campaign manager , called the speech " factious , damaging , shameful and unseasonable " .

Despite these setbacks , Obama persist competitive in polls with McCain . A June 6 CNN poll found Obama lead McCain 49 to 46 percent . With an Obama - Clinton slate versus a McCain - Mitt Romney ticket , the result get up to 52 to 46 percentage . Polls in former July 2008 found alike results .

Obama took a much - publicise tour of the Middle East and Europe in July 2008 . While still a presumptive candidate , the senator receive privately with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al - Maliki [ generator : NPR ] . In Berlin , Obama give a speech that drew line of latitude to President John F. Kennedy ’s far-famed 1963 " Ich bin ein Berliner " and President Ronald Reagan ’s " pluck down this wall " speech . Kennedy and Reagan , each a ride President of the United States at the clip of their speeches in Berlin , draw gang of nearly 100,000 and 20,000 , severally [ source : Bozell ] . While still a candidate , Obama impart his speech in Berlin to an forecast 200,000 [ origin : Rose ] .

On August 22 , 2008 , Obama announced he ’d selected Delaware senator Joe Biden as his running mate . Sen. Biden had been a rival of Obama ’s during the 2008 primaries , but had cut down out in the beginning of January 2008 after a poor showing in the Iowa Caucus . This was Biden ’s second runnel for the White House , the first coming in 1988 . He dropped out amid accusations of plagiarism in a speech he gave [ source : MSNBC ] . Obama say he select Biden because he was “ a solon with sound opinion who does n’t have to blot out behind braggadocio to keep America impregnable ” [ source : NPR ] .

Obama choose Biden over Hillary Clinton , who many Democrats had hoped would end up as Obama ’s running mate . Republican also pointed out that Biden was a vocal critic of Obama ’s deficiency of experience in extraneous policy [ source : MSNBC ] . Biden served in the senate for more than 30 years , and was known for his “ depressed - collar roots , mostly liberal ballot disk and a reputation as a long - weave orator ” [ informant : AP ] .

With his vice president chosen , Obama turned his attention to the three presidential public debate versus Sen. John McCain . Poll answer showed that Sen. Obama pull ahead all three argument against his GOP rival ; 51 , 54 and 58 percent of responder believing Obama descend out on top in the three debate in CNN polls [ source : CNN ] .

By mid - October , he had enough elector responding they design on voting for him – include in some lilt states that traditionally go Republican , like Virginia – that the estimated reckoning of those votes would be enough to satisfy the 270 electoral votes needed to expect him into the White House .

The gulf between polls and literal vote is a wide one , however and Democrats continued to hold their breaths until Nov. 4 .

For more information on the presidential race and other related theme , visit the next pageboy .

Obama Wins the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election

The few days precede the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 4 were exhausting for Obama . A record book number of voters had taken part in other voting in the 32 states that allowed it . Despite these billion of vote already cast , Florida , Virginia and Ohio persist key battleground states , and Obama chat each several times over the week leading up to Election Day . Outside of the race , Obama suffered the exit of his grandmother , who ’d helped resurrect him , the day before the election .

His military campaign found itself flush with John Cash after the record - breaking $ 650 million he provoke during his combined basal and presidential bids ( $ 150 of which was raised in September 2008 alone ) ; 91 percent of those investment company fare from single donor [ source : Telegraph , Open mystery ] .

As a resolution of the unspent hard cash , the Obama campaign purchase half - minute blocks of programming time on three of the four major U.S. television networks . He held last - minute of arc and former - night exchange , drawing crowds between 45,000 and 100,000 people in the West and Midwest and featuring guest appearance by celebrities like Bruce Springsteen . He also buy publicizing and held rallies in traditionally Republican country like Missouri and New Mexico , as well as in his opposer Sen. John McCain ’s home state of Arizona .

His 20 - calendar month campaign for the White House over , Obama returned to Chicago to cast his vote and spend election dark with his family and more than 125,000 supporters at an Election Night rally in his accolade in Chicago ’s Grant Park .

The first election results in the nation foreshadow the outcome for the rest of the country . The 21 voters in Dixville Notch , N.H. – which let ballot cast at midnight on Nov. 4 – went to Obama , 15 to 6 . As the day wear on and polls began to close , the results for the eternal sleep of the United States come in .

The popular vote for the land was carve up , with Obama capturing an estimated 62.2 million vote , 52 percentage of the vote [ source : CNN ] . But the electoral balloting numeration showed that Obama won in a landslip . at last , Obama won an estimated 338 electoral vote , 68 more than the 270 required to become president . In addition to maintain all states that had vote Democrat in 2004 , the candidate managed to flip at least seven 2004 red states to new blue 1 , including the battleground body politic of Florida , Ohio and Virginia – a state that had n’t voted Democrat since 1964 [ informant : CNN , Fox News ] .

On Nov. 4 , 2008 , after serving just four age as an elected functionary in the Union government , Sen. Barack Obama became the first black president - chosen in the history of the United States . " If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a position where all things are possible , " Obama read during his victory speech , " … tonight is your answer " [ source : USA Today ] .

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