On February 10, 2007, Senator Barack Obama declared his candidacy for the 2008 presidential race.  It was a bitter cold day in Chicago as he stood almost in the same place where Abraham Lincoln began his political career.

In the biggest landslide in Illinois’ history, Barack Obama won a U.S. Senate seat on November 2, 2004.  He became the third Afro-American U. S. Senator in history.

As a candidate for the U.S. Senate, Barack Obama was the keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention on July 27, 2004.

Barack Obama at 2004 Democratic National Convention

Election Night—Audio of Victory Speech

Early Politics