Barack Obama Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Presidential campaigns== ===2008=== {{Main|2008 United States presidential election|Barack Obama 2008 presidential primary campaign|Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign}} [[File:ElectoralCollege2008.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|alt=Electoral college map, depicting Obama winning many states in the Northeast, Midwest, and Pacific West, and Florida, and McCain winning many states in the South and Rocky Mountains.|2008 electoral vote results. Obama won 365–173.]] [[File:Official portrait of Barack Obama.jpg|thumb|Official portrait, 2009]] 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]].<ref name="ChicagoTribune_Pearson_20070210">{{cite news |last1=Pearson |first1=Rick |last2=Long |first2=Ray |date=February 10, 2007 |title=Obama: I'm running for president |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-070210obama-pearson1-story,0,3768114.story |access-date=September 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813115846/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-070210obama-pearson1-story%2C0%2C3768114.story |archive-date=August 13, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BBC20070210">{{cite news |date=February 10, 2007 |title=Obama Launches Presidential Bid |publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6349081.stm |url-status=live |access-date=January 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202060802/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6349081.stm |archive-date=February 2, 2008}}</ref> The choice of the announcement site was viewed as symbolic, as it was also where [[Abraham Lincoln]] delivered his [[Lincoln's House Divided Speech|"House Divided"]] speech in 1858.<ref name="ChicagoTribune_Pearson_20070210" /><ref name="ChicagoTribune_Parsons20070210">{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-159132539.html |url-status=dead |access-date=June 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511195905/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-159132539.html |archive-date = May 11, 2011 |title = Obama's launch site: Symbolic Springfield: Announcement venue evokes Lincoln legacy |last=Parsons |first=Christi |date=February 10, 2007 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune }}</ref> Obama emphasized issues of rapidly ending the Iraq War, increasing [[Energy policy of the United States|energy independence]], and [[Health care reform in the United States|reforming the health care system]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Barack Obama on the Issues: What Would Be Your Top Three Overall Priorities If Elected? |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/barack-obama/#top-priorities |url-status=dead |access-date=April 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509140350/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/barack-obama/ |archive-date=May 9, 2008 }} See also: * {{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Evan |author-link=Evan Thomas |year=2009 |title=A Long Time Coming |publisher=[[PublicAffairs]] |location=New York |url=https://archive.org/details/alongtimecominge00thom |url-access=registration |isbn=978-1-58648-607-5 |page=[https://archive.org/details/alongtimecominge00thom/page/74 74] }} * {{cite news |last=Falcone |first=Michael |date=December 21, 2007 |title=Obama's 'One Thing' |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/obamas-one-thing/ |access-date=April 14, 2008 |archive-date=July 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716212237/https://archive.nytimes.com/thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/obamas-one-thing/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Numerous candidates entered the [[2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries|Democratic Party presidential primaries]]. The field narrowed to Obama and Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] after early contests, with the race remaining close throughout the primary process, but with Obama gaining a steady lead in pledged [[Delegate (American politics)|delegates]] due to better long-range planning, superior fundraising, dominant organizing in [[caucus]] states, and better exploitation of delegate allocation rules.<ref name="allocation" /> On June 2, 2008, Obama had received enough votes to clinch his nomination. After an initial hesitation to concede, on June 7, Clinton ended her campaign and endorsed Obama.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nagourney |first1=Adam |first2=Jeff |last2=Zeleny |date=June 5, 2008 |title=Clinton to End Bid and Endorse Obama |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/us/politics/04cnd-campaign.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |access-date=November 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605014013/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/us/politics/04cnd-campaign.html |archive-date=June 5, 2008}}</ref> On August 23, 2008, Obama announced his [[2008 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection|selection]] of [[Delaware]] Senator [[Joe Biden]] as his vice presidential running mate.<ref name=nagourney>{{cite news |last1=Nagourney |first1=Adam |first2=Jeff |last2=Zeleny |date=August 23, 2008 |title=Obama Chooses Biden as Running Mate |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/us/politics/24biden.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401222653/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/us/politics/24biden.html |archive-date=April 1, 2009}}</ref> Obama selected Biden from a field speculated to include former Indiana Governor and Senator [[Evan Bayh]] and Virginia Governor [[Tim Kaine]].<ref name=nagourney /> At the [[2008 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]] in [[Denver]], Colorado, Hillary Clinton called for her supporters to endorse Obama, and she and [[Bill Clinton]] gave convention speeches in his support.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baldwin |first=Tom |date=August 27, 2008 |title=Hillary Clinton: 'Barack is my candidate' |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hillary-clinton-barack-is-my-candidate-50w3d5n7wm9 |access-date=December 15, 2021 |issn=0140-0460 |archive-date=December 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215030155/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hillary-clinton-barack-is-my-candidate-50w3d5n7wm9 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Nagourney |first=Adam |date=August 28, 2008 |title=Obama Wins Nomination; Biden and Bill Clinton Rally Party |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28DEMSDAY.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |access-date=December 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827212341/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28DEMSDAY.html |archive-date=August 27, 2008 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Obama delivered his acceptance speech at [[Invesco Field at Mile High]] stadium to a crowd of about eighty-four thousand; the speech was viewed by over three million people worldwide.<ref name="npr1409">{{cite news |last1=Liasson |first1=Mara |last2=Norris |first2=Michele |date=July 7, 2008 |title=Obama To Accept Nomination at Mile High Stadium |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92301409 |access-date=December 22, 2010 |archive-date=March 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316164750/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92301409 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="acceptance" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Lloyd |first=Robert |date=August 29, 2008 |title=Barack Obama, Al Gore Raise the Roof at Invesco Field |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-na-tvcritic29-2008aug29,0,3593116.story |access-date=August 29, 2008 |archive-date=September 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906195440/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-na-tvcritic29-2008aug29,0,3593116.story |url-status=live }}</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="small donations" /> 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 |last=Salant |first=Jonathan D. |date=June 19, 2008 |title=Obama Won't Accept Public Money in Election Campaign |publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] |url=https://article.wn.com/view/2008/06/19/Obama_Wont_Accept_Public_Money_in_Election_Campaign/ |access-date=June 19, 2008 |archive-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207114028/https://article.wn.com/view/2008/06/19/Obama_Wont_Accept_Public_Money_in_Election_Campaign/ |url-status=live }}</ref> John McCain was nominated as the Republican candidate, and he selected [[Sarah Palin]] as his running mate. Obama and McCain engaged in three [[United States presidential election debates|presidential debates]] in September and October 2008.<ref name="presidential debates" /> On November 4, Obama won the presidency with 365 [[Electoral College (United States)|electoral votes]] to 173 received by McCain.<ref name="electoral votes" /> Obama won 52.9 percent of the [[Election|popular vote]] to McCain's 45.7 percent.<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 |access-date = February 20, 2009 |publisher = Real Clear Politics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217083055/http://www.realclearpolitics.com//epolls//2008//president//us//general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html |archive-date = February 17, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> He became the first African-American to be elected president.<ref name="FirstBlackPrez">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7709978.stm |title = Obama wins historic US election |publisher = BBC News |date = November 5, 2008 |access-date = November 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218083153/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7709978.stm |archive-date = December 18, 2008 |url-status=live }} * {{cite news |access-date = November 5, 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05elect.html |title = Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls |first = Adam |last = Nagourney |date = November 4, 2008 |work = The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209071842/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05elect.html |archive-date = December 9, 2008 |url-status=live }} * {{cite news |access-date = 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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081104231227/http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/election.president/index.html |archive-date = November 4, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Obama delivered [[Barack Obama election victory speech, 2008|his victory speech]] before hundreds of thousands of supporters in Chicago's [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]].<ref name=achangeisgoncome>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/us/politics/05text-obama.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|first=Barack|last=Obama|year=2008|title=Transcript of Senator Barack Obama's speech to supporters after the Feb. 5 nominating contests, as provided by Federal News Service|quote=Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.|access-date=June 21, 2023|archive-date=June 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621044712/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/us/politics/05text-obama.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="independent1">{{cite news |access-date = November 5, 2008 |url=https://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 = London |date = November 5, 2008 |last = Johnson |first = Wesley |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209055411/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/change-has-come-says-presidentelect-obama-992930.html |archive-date = December 9, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> He is one of the three United States senators moved directly from the U.S. Senate to the White House, the others being [[Warren G. Harding]] and [[John F. Kennedy]].<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Senate: Senators Who Became President|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/senators_became_president.htm|access-date=August 27, 2021|website=senate.gov|archive-date=July 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724012115/https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/senators_became_president.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> ===2012=== {{Main|2012 United States presidential election|Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign}} [[File:ElectoralCollege2012.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|alt=Electoral college map, depicting Obama winning many states in the Northeast, Midwest, and Pacific West, and Florida, and Romney winning many states in the South and Rocky Mountains.|2012 electoral vote results. Obama won 332–206.]] On April 4, 2011, Obama filed election papers with the [[Federal Election Commission]] and then announced his reelection campaign for 2012 in a video titled "It Begins with Us" that he posted on his website.<ref>{{cite news |title = Obama Begins Re-Election Facing New Political Challenges |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/obama-launches-re-election-facing-new-political-challenges/ |date = April 4, 2011 |first = Michael D. |last = Shear |work = The New York Times (blog) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405205656/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/obama-launches-re-election-facing-new-political-challenges/ |archive-date = April 5, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Obama announces re-election bid |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/04/04/Obama-announces-re-election-bid/UPI-95081301905800/?dailybrief |date = April 4, 2011 |work = [[United Press International]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510011832/http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/04/04/Obama-announces-re-election-bid/UPI-95081301905800/?dailybrief |archive-date = May 10, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Obama Opens 2012 Campaign, With Eye on Money and Independent Voters |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/us/politics/05obama.html |date = April 4, 2011 |first1 = Jeff |last1 = Zeleny |work = The New York Times |first2 = Jackie |last2 = Calmes |name-list-style = amp |access-date = April 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115021431/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/us/politics/05obama.html|archive-date=November 15, 2012 }}</ref> As the incumbent president, he ran virtually unopposed in the [[Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2012|Democratic Party presidential primaries]],<ref name="CNN-clinch1">{{cite news |url = http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/03/leading-presidential-candidate-to-clinch-nomination-tuesday/ |title = Leading presidential candidate to clinch nomination Tuesday |publisher = CNN (blog) |last = Yoon |first = Robert |date = April 3, 2012 |access-date = May 2, 2012 |archive-date = April 26, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120426082004/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/03/leading-presidential-candidate-to-clinch-nomination-tuesday/ |url-status = dead }}</ref> and on April 3, 2012, Obama secured the 2778 [[2012 Democratic National Convention|convention]] delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination.<ref name="CNN-clinch2">{{cite news |url = http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/03/breaking-obama-clinches-democratic-nomination/ |title = Obama clinches Democratic nomination |publisher = CNN (blog) |date = April 3, 2012 |access-date = April 3, 2012 |archive-date = April 4, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120404203415/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/03/breaking-obama-clinches-democratic-nomination/ |url-status = dead }}</ref> At the [[2012 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], Obama and Joe Biden were formally nominated by former President Bill Clinton as the Democratic Party candidates for president and vice president in the general election. Their main opponents were Republicans [[Mitt Romney]], the former governor of Massachusetts, and Representative [[Paul Ryan]] of Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite news |last = Cohen |first = Tom |title = Clinton says Obama offers a better path forward for America |url = http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/05/politics/democratic-convention-wrap/index.html |publisher = CNN |date = September 6, 2012 |access-date = July 5, 2015 |archive-date = July 6, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150706115632/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/05/politics/democratic-convention-wrap/index.html |url-status = live }}</ref> On November 6, 2012, Obama won 332 electoral votes, exceeding the 270 required for him to be reelected as president.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lauter |first=David |title=Romney campaign gives up in Florida |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-pn-romney-concedes-florida-election-20121108,0,415187.story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109020204/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-pn-romney-concedes-florida-election-20121108%2C0%2C415187.story |archive-date=November 9, 2012 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=November 8, 2012 |access-date=July 5, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last = Barnes |first = Robert |title = Obama wins a second term as U.S. president |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/after-grueling-campaign-polls-open-for-election-day-2012/2012/11/06/d1c24c98-2802-11e2-b4e0-346287b7e56c_story.html |newspaper = The Washington Post |date = November 6, 2012 |access-date = July 5, 2015 |archive-date = April 17, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150417162701/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/after-grueling-campaign-polls-open-for-election-day-2012/2012/11/06/d1c24c98-2802-11e2-b4e0-346287b7e56c_story.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1 = Welch |first1 = William M. |last2 = Strauss |first2 = Gary |title = With win in critical battleground states, Obama wins second term |url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/11/06/election-day-obama-romney/1680933/ |newspaper = USA Today |date = November 7, 2012 |access-date = July 5, 2015 |archive-date = June 16, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150616201528/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/11/06/election-day-obama-romney/1680933/ |url-status = live }}</ref> With 51.1 percent of the popular vote,<ref name="FEC">{{cite web |url=http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2012/federalelections2012.pdf |title = Election Results for the U.S. President, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives |publisher = [[Federal Elections Commission]] |author = FEC |date = July 2013 |access-date = August 20, 2013 |page = 5 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131002094824/http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2012/federalelections2012.pdf |archive-date = October 2, 2013 |url-status = dead }}</ref> Obama became the first Democratic president since [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] to win the [[List of United States presidential elections by popular vote margin|majority of the popular vote]] twice.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brownstein |first=Ronald |title=The U.S. has reached a demographic milestone—and it's not turning back |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/thenextamerica/demographics/the-u-s-has-reached-a-demographic-milestone-and-it-s-not-turning-back-20121109 |work=[[National Journal]] |date=November 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111231854/http://www.nationaljournal.com/thenextamerica/demographics/the-u-s-has-reached-a-demographic-milestone-and-it-s-not-turning-back-20121109 |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |access-date=July 5, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.thenation.com/blog/171178/obama-has-great-big-mandate-and-he-must-use-it |title = Obama's 3 Million Vote, Electoral College Landslide, Majority of States Mandate |last = Nichols |first = John |date = November 9, 2012 |work = The Nation |access-date = November 18, 2012 |archive-date = November 27, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121127235843/http://www.thenation.com/blog/171178/obama-has-great-big-mandate-and-he-must-use-it |url-status = live }}</ref> Obama addressed supporters and volunteers at Chicago's [[McCormick Place]] after his reelection and said: "Tonight you voted for action, not politics as usual. You elected us to focus on your jobs, not ours. And in the coming weeks and months, I am looking forward to reaching out and working with leaders of both parties."<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Kristen A.|title=Election 2012: President Obama gives victory speech in front of thousands in Chicago, 'I have never been more hopeful about America{{'-}}|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/president-obama-victory-speech-hopeful-america-article-1.1197895|access-date=November 8, 2012|newspaper=Daily News|location=New York|date=November 7, 2012|archive-date=November 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109073355/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/president-obama-victory-speech-hopeful-america-article-1.1197895|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NYT20130121">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/22/us/politics/obama-inauguration-draws-hundreds-of-thousands.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121151143/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/22/us/politics/obama-inauguration-draws-hundreds-of-thousands.html |archive-date=January 21, 2013 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Obama Offers Liberal Vision: 'We Must Act{{'-}}|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Michael|last=Shear|date=January 21, 2013|access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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