Barack Obama

Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to Barack Obama, Sr. (born in Nyanza Province, Kenya) and Ann Dunham (born in Wichita, Kansas). Barack Hussein Obama (born August 4, 1961) is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and a member of the Democratic Party.

Obama grew up in culturally diverse surroundings. He spent most of his childhood in the majority-minority U.S. state of Hawaii and lived for four years in Indonesia. Obama delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention while still an Illinois state legislator. Since announcing his candidacy in February 2007, Obama has emphasized ending the Iraq War and implementing universal health care as campaign themes.

As a member of the Democratic minority in the 109th Congress, Obama co-sponsored the enactment of conventional weapons control and transparency legislation, and made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Obama's parents separated when he was two years old and later divorced. His father went to Harvard University to pursue Ph.D. studies, then returned to Kenya, where he died in an auto accident when the younger Obama was twenty-one years old.



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today's papers Super Troopers By Ben Whitford Posted Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, at 5:39 AM ET Super Tuesday is almost upon us, and the papers are giving it all they've got. The Washington Post leads with a new poll that puts Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama neck-and-neck in the battle for the Democratic nomination. The New York Times gives top spot to an analysis of the candidates intensive - and expensive - last-minute advertising, while the Los Angeles Times leads with a look at the California primary. With two days to go until the biggest primary polling event in US history, the latest national poll shows 47 percent of likely voters supporting Hillary Clinton and 43 percent backing Barack Obama. Given the 4-point margin of error that's essentially a dead heat, suggesting that neither candidate benefited decisively from John Edwards' withdrawal. In the GOP camp, John McCain has a clear advantage: he's got the backing of 48 percent of likely voters, leading Mitt Romney by 24 points. Of course, as the Post points out, pollsters have been getting things wrong fairly consistently so far this election cycle. To continue reading, click here. Ben Whitford writes for the Guardian and Newsweek, and edits the Backyard Briefing, a blog about Latin American news and politics. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE \| READ MESSAGES Also In Slate News & Politics She's Old. That's a Good Thing. News & Politics Jonah Goldberg's Appalling Ann Coulter Impersonation Health & Science The Pill: So Is It Good for You, Bad for You, or What?	Advertisement
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