PARTY -- Democrat.

AGE-BIRTH DATE -- 45; Aug. 4, 1961.

RESIDENCE -- Chicago.

OCCUPATION -- Freshman U.S. senator.

EXPERIENCE -- U.S. senator, 2005-present; Illinois State senator, 1997-2004; constitutional law professor, University of Chicago.

EDUCATION -- Law degree, Harvard University; bachelor's degree in political science, Columbia University.

FAMILY -- Wife, Michelle, and two daughters.

QUOTE -- "Each and every time, a new generation has risen up and done what's needed to be done. Today we are called once more -- and it is time for our generation to answer that call." -- from his speech Saturday announcing he was seeking the Democratic nomination for president in 2008.

He attended the same high school as America Online founder Steve Case, who is three years his senior.

While a student at Harvard Law School, he applied to appear in a black pride pinup calendar. He was rejected by an all-female committee.

His middle name is Hussein, same as his father.

He delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 2004 while still only a candidate for Senate.

Barack Obama on the issues

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama's positions on a sampling of issues:

Abortion: Favors abortion rights. As Illinois lawmaker, opposed restrictions on public financing of abortions.

Global warming: Co-sponsored bill that would set mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions and raise energy costs. Plan would require emissions to return to 2004 levels by 2012 and to 1990 levels by 2020.

Gun Control: Voted to leave gun-makers and dealers open to suit. Also, as Illinois state lawmaker, supported ban on all forms of semiautomatic weapons and tighter state restrictions generally on firearms.

Health care: Wants universal coverage by 2012; details not specified.

Immigration: Voted to give illegal immigrants a route to citizenship after they pay fines and back taxes, learn English, satisfy a work requirement and pass a criminal background check. Voted for building a fence along Mexican border, and toughening requirements that citizens be given preference for jobs over guest workers.

Iran: Proposed regional conference that includes Iran, Syria and other neighbors, aimed at stabilizing Iraq. In 2004 Senate campaign, held out possibility of military action against Iran if sanctions designed to stop its nuclear program did not work.

Iraq: Supports capping troop levels at 130,000, beginning withdrawal May 1 and completing pullout of combat brigades by March 31, 2008.

Stem cell research: Supports relaxing restrictions on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research.

LINKS:

Barack Obama Presidential Exploratory Committee - Official Campaign Site.
Office of US Senator Barack Obama - Government Site.
Obama 2010 - Official US Senate Re-Election Site (2010).
Hopefund PAC - Obama's Leadership PAC.
BarackObamaIsMyHomeboy.com - Grassroots Supporters
Draft Obama - Grassroots Supporters.
Students for Barack Obama - Grassroots Supporters.
Obama for America - Grassroots Supporters.
Barack Oblogga - Grassroots Supporters.
Obamarama - Grassroots Supporters.
Barack Obama Now! - Grassroots Supporters.
Obama Was Right - Grassroots Supporters.
Independents for Obama - Grassroots Supporters.
We Love Barack Obama - Grassroots Supporters.
Draft Barack in 2008 - Grassroots Supporters.
RunObama.com - Grassroots Supporters.
RunObamaRun.com - Grassroots Supporters.
Obama Media Watch - Grassroots Supporters.
Texans for Obama - Grassroots Supporters.
Vermonters for Obama - Grassroots Supporters.
Asian Americans for Barack Obama - Grassroots Supporters.
Republicans for Obama - Grassroots Supporters.
The Audacity of Hope - Obama's Book.
2008 Presidential Wire: Barack Obama - News Aggregator.
Wikipedia: Barack Obama - Online Resource.
Chicago Sun-Times: Barack Obama Archive - Online Resource.
Project VoteSmart: Barack Obama - Profile.

OFFICIAL CONTACT INFORMATION:

Obama Exploratory Committee
607 14th Street NW
Suite 800
Washington, DC 20005
Email: info@barackobama.com

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