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.



Now playing: *Slate V, a video-only site from the world's leading online magazine. Visit Slate V* at www.slateV.com.
today's papers The Beginning of the End? By Daniel Politi Posted Wednesday, May 7, 2008, at 6:27 AM ET All the papers lead with yesterday's Democratic primaries, where Sen. Barack Obama trounced Sen. Hillary Clinton by 14 percentage points while the former first lady only managed to win Indiana by two percentage points. The Los Angeles Times easily wins the headline-of-the-day award: "Obama cruises; Clinton clings." It was a devastating night for Clinton because yesterday's primaries made up the largest remaining Democratic contests and were her last real chance to close Obama's lead and convince party leaders that voters are turning her way. If there's one clear theme running through all the papers it's that this may really be the beginning of the end for Clinton, who vowed to continue in the race. The Washington Post points out that even though Clinton managed to win Indiana, "the night produced a far different outcome than the Clinton campaign had hoped for." Expectations were high that her margin of victory would be larger in Indiana and that she would be able to cut into Obama's lead in North Carolina. But that didn't happen, and Obama's victory address sounded a lot like a general-election speech. The New York Times notes that due to delays in one county in Indiana, "Clinton did not appear on television until well after Mr. Obama, allowing him to put his stamp of victory on the evening." And while Obama "seemed relaxed and triumphant," as USA Today puts it, the LAT points out that "there was a note of wistfulness to [Clinton's] remarks. Clinton lingered over thank-yous to her family and supporters even as she promised to continue campaigning." To continue reading, click here. Daniel Politi writes "Today's Papers" for Slate. He can be reached at todayspapers@slate.com. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE \| READ MESSAGES Also In Slate Health & Science I've Recycled Yogurt Cups for Years-- and They're the Wrong Plastic! Travel & Food A Grungy Baseball Tour of the Dominican Republic Arts & Life Why Everyone Still Loves The Red Balloon	Advertisement
Ideas on how to make something better? Send an e-mail to newsletters@slate.com. Manage your newsletters on Slate Unsubscribe \| Newsletter Center \| Advertising Information Please do not reply to this message since this is an unmonitored e-mail address. If you have questions about newsletters, please go here. Copyright 2008 Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive Co. LLC \| Privacy Policy Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive \| c/o E-mail Customer Care \|1515 N. Courthouse Rd. \| Arlington, VA 22201