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ELECTION 2008





  • Taxes

      When it comes to taxes, it’s usually a matter of cutting them or raising them. But as any taxpayer knows, the tax code is a complicated being.

  • Economy

      A bad economy has been known to sink a sitting president, but a strong one has generally been no guarantee for re-election.

  • Health Care

      Costs are soaring and millions remain uninsured. For some, it is all about reform of an ailing system. For others, it is about creating a new one.

  • Social Security

      The fund for retirees will run out of money at some point, the disagreement lies in when. It needs fixing or replacing.

  • Housing

      Known as the mortgage mess, the subprime meltdown or the housing debacle, its tentacles reach far and wide and there's plenty blame to go around.

  • Energy

      The energy spike is stirring a number of policy debates, ranging from conservation to alternative fuels to some form of carbon tax.

  • Trade

      Setting the trade agenda is often a tug of war between Congress and president. It's high profile and emotional because it means jobs and votes.



Barack Obama (D)

Senator from Illinois





 

PROFILE

 

Personal:
Born Honolulu, Hawaii, Aug. 4 1961
Married to Michelle Obama
Two children

Education:
Columbia University, BA, 1983 (Political Science)
Harvard University, JD, 1991

Professional:
Before joining the U.S. Senate in 2004, he worked as a community organizer and civil rights lawyer in Chicago and served eight years in the Illinois State Senate.

Notable:
- First African-American president of the Harvard Law Review
- Fifth African-American to serve in U.S. Senate
- Author of two best-selling books  titled “Dreams from My Father” and “The Audacity of Hope”

 

ON THE ISSUES

 

Taxes:
Would deliver $80-$85 billion in tax cuts annually.

Economy:
Supports increased minimum wage as well as job creation and training programs for low-income workers.

Healthcare:
Wants to provide affordable, comprehensive healthcare to every American...

Social Security:
Opposes privatization and would protect and strengthen coverage of existing system.

Housing: 
Supports creation of a federal fund to help homeowners refinance their mortgages...

Trade:
Voted against Cafta in 2005 because of deficient labor and environmental...

Energy:
Wants to wean America of its dependence on foreign energy though measures...

 

MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS

 

Top Industries:
Lawyers/Law Firms: $13,690,170
Misc Business: $10,269,167
Retired: $9,113,127
Securities & Investment: $6,793,380
Education: $5,145,309

Top Contributors:
Goldman Sachs: $523,478
University of California: $339,168
UBS AG $327,302
JP Morgan Chase: $317,142
Lehman Brothers: $302,697

Source: Center For Responsible Government -- data through March 31. For more information go to OpenSecrets.Org.

 

NEED TO KNOW

 

Presidential Campaign | http://www.barackobama.com/

U.S. Senator | http://obama.senate.gov/


 


ADDITIONAL POLITICAL COVERAGE

  • A look at Barack Obama the investor

      The Democratic presidential hopeful may be a fresh face in politics, but he is treading familiar -- and conservative -- ground with his investments.



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