President-Elect Barack Obama's Biography

Barack Obama has created history on the 4th of November 2008. This dynamic personality is currently the 44th President-Elect of the United States of America. He is also the nation’s first African American President who has broken all racial barriers! This historical win has been the cynosure of all eyes since his long presidential campaign, which amounted to 21 months. Speaking a humongous crowd that had tears streaming down their faces, Barack Obama said in the presence of his wife and children alongside on stage, "It's been a long time coming. But tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America." Thus has begun the journey of Barack Obama.

Born on the 4th of August 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Barack Hussein Obama was raised by a single mother and his grandparents. His father, Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. from Kenya married an American named Ann Dunham from Kansas. However, the couple separated soon and then divorced in 1964. At this time, young Obama was only two years old. From there on, his mother married Lolo Soetoro. The family then moved to Indonesia in the year 1967.

Obama then attended local schools but then lived with his grandparents in Honolulu from 1971 to 1979. He then moved to Los Angeles and then moved on to the Columbia University in New York City. Here, he studied political science. He graduated with a B.A. in 1983. After four years, Barack Obama then traveled to Chicago. Here he worked with a church based group. He worked towards the betterment of the poor and helped to improve their living conditions. This was purely based on the qualities his mother imbibed in him. Empathy and service towards others was something he was taught since his young days.

Around mid 1988, Barack Obama traveled to Europe and spent time in Kenya where he was first introduced to his Kenyan relatives. He joined the Harvard Law School in the later half of 1988. During the summers, he worked in Chicago with a law firm.

In June 1989, Barack Obama met Michelle Robinson. They began dating much later and finally married on 3rd October, 1992. Their first daughter is named Malia Ann and the second daughter is named Natasha.

Once he graduated from Harvard in 1991, he returned to Chicago. From there on, the University of Chicago Law School gave Obama a fellowship. By then, he had begun with a book, which was finally completed in the middle of 1995 titled, ‘Dreams From My Father’.

In the earlier period of 1992, Barack Obama joined the University of Chicago Law School where he taught constitutional law for a period of 12 years. He was also on the board of directors of the ‘Woods Fund of Chicago.’

In 1996, Obama was elected to the Illinois Senate. In 1998, he was reelected to the Illinois Senate and this was followed again in 2002. By 2003, he regained a majority. In November 2004, he resigned once he was elected to the US Senate. This was the time when he received a whopping 70% vote as against Alan Keyes 27%. This was surely a large margin in terms of victory.

Obama then became the fifth African American Senator in U.S. history and was sworn in on 4th January 2005. While in the U.S. Senate, Obama tackled the challenges of globalization. He was also a member of the Veteran’s Affairs Committee where in he handled matters that dealt with defining and sorting out various issues in America. By January 2007, Obama worked on many assignments connected with various issues related to health, education, labor etc.

It was finally before the Old State Capitol in Illinois when Barack Obama declared on the 10th of February about his candidacy for the President of the United States. This was the time when he carried out extensive campaigns and raised millions through fundraising events. He even set a record in January 2008 by raising an amount of $36.8 million.

Throughout the months of April, May and June, Barack Obama remained ahead of the other delegates. By 3rd June, he finally became the presumptive nominee. He presented his goals before a large audience of 84,000 supporters and also accepted his party’s nomination. Finally, on the 4th of November, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States. On his victory, Obama further congratulated his opponent, John McCain for his service and all the hardships he has faced for America. This scene is described as the transformation of America where in Barack Obama remains to be the first African American to be elected as the President of the United States.