Barack Obama
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Office | District | Status |
| President | Statewide | Incumbent | |
| Party | In Office Since | Term Ends | |
| Democrat | 2008 | 2012 | |
| Level of Government | |||
| Date of Birth | Birthplace | Now Lives In | |
| August 4, 1961 | Honolulu, HI | Chicago, IL | |
Synopsis | Barack Obama is the president of the United States. A former U.S. senator from Illinois since 2004, he first came to national prominence for a speech at that year's Democratic national convention. After holding several fundraisers in North Carolina, he campaigned heavily in the 2008 primary against Hillary Clinton, helping draw a record crowd to the annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. Despite problems with his former pastor and a fight over the gas tax, Obama won North Carolina by 14 points, giving him a much-needed boost in the nomination fight. He went on to win the state in the general election by a 0.3 percent margin. |
Trivia |
Former Duke football player Reggie Love has accompanied Obama on some trips. |
Endorsements |
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Biography
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Marital Status
Married
Spouse
Michelle
Children
Daughters, Malia Ann and Sasha
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Barack Obama is the president of the United States.
Early Life, Education and Career
Barack Hussein Obama Jr. was born Aug. 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He grew up with his mother in Hawaii and for some years in Indonesia.
He graduated with a bachelor's degree from Columbia University in 1983. After working as a community advocate in Chicago, Obama earned a law degree from Harvard University in 1991.
He returned to Chicago to practice as a civil rights attorney and teach constitutional law.
Obama then served in the Illinois state senate for eight years. He was elected to the U.S. senate in 2004 after his keynote speech at the Democratic convention and officially began his run for the presidency in February of 2007.
North Carolina Fundraising
Obama made local headlines in March of 2007 when he made public a letter to a constituent backing a federal investigation of former Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong.
He held a private fundraiser in Charlotte in April and another one on June 14 in Chapel Hill.
During the second trip, he met privately with state political leaders in Durham.
As of January 2008, he had raised $767,066 from North Carolinians, including CapStrat CEO Ken Eudy, Durham jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis and SAS co-founder John Sall.
Early Campaign Events
Obama rallied supporters in Durham Nov. 1, 2007, speaking at a public fundraiser held at N.C. Central University and endorsing Durham Mayor Bill Bell.
In addition, some North Carolinians traveled to South Carolina to canvass for Obama before that state's January primary.
The Rev. Curtis Gatewood, former leader of the Durham NAACP, sponsored a rally in February of 2008 to protest comments made by the Clinton campaign.
Obama met with Edwards at his home outside Chapel Hill on Feb. 17 as part of an effort to land his endorsement. His campaign manager, David Plouffe, visited Raleigh on Feb. 21.
Endorsements
State Rep. Ty Harrell of Raleigh was the first North Carolina official to endorse Obama.
He's also been endorsed by Democratic gubernatorial candidates Richard Moore and Beverly Perdue, Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, state Sen. Malcolm Graham, former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt, Durham Mayor Bill Bell, Greensboro Mayor Yvonne Johnson, Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, Congressional candidate Marshall Adame, historian John Hope Franklin.
According to one report, Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy, Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy, Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson and Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton have also endorsed Obama, though those endorsements have not been officially announced yet.
Former Democratic political operative Joe Sinsheimer, best known for helping bring down House Speaker Jim Black, worked for Obama's Senate campaign.
Obama's leadership PAC, the Hope Fund, gave $10,000 to Rep. Heath Shuler's campaign in 2006.
Six of the state's 19 superdelegates, Dannie Montgomery, Everett Ward and U.S. Reps. G.K. Butterfield, David Price and Mel Watt have said they will vote for Obama at the national convention. All three Congressmen had previously backed Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, but only Butterfield switched endorsements while Edwards was still in the race.
Campaign Events
On March 19, Obama gave a speech on his foreign policy strategy to a group of about 150 local Democrats and elected officials in Fayetteville. That afternoon, he spoke before 2,500 people at the Grady Cole Center in Charlotte.
On April 6, U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, a Virginia Democrat, campaigned for Obama in Elizabeth City.
On April 9, Michelle Obama drew a crowd of 5,700 to the Reynolds Coliseum at N.C. State University.
On April 10 and 11, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius campaigned for Obama, arguing he would handle the economy better.
On May 2, Obama and Clinton both made speeches at the Democratic Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Raleigh, helping draw a record crowd.
May 6 Primary
Because of the closeness of the delegate count between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton, some political observers expect North Carolina's May 6 primary to be hotly contested, though as the campaign has progressed, others have predicted a blowout by Obama.
Obama won North Carolina by 14 points, giving him a much-needed boost in the nomination fight. He went on to win the state in the general election by a 0.3 percent margin.
Research and reporting by Karin Dryhurst and Ryan Teague Beckwith.
Occupation
| Law professor |
Community Involvement:
Not specified.
Contact Info
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