Obama's campaign for the presidency 2004-2009 Key terms

Election to illinois state senate

Obama’s Strengths and personal qualities:

• Had a reputation for cooperating with both Republicans and Democrats to pass legislation

• Expanded health care and early years education

• Improved the rights of suspects held by police by requiring interrogations be videotaped

Bobby Rush

A founder of the black Panthers. Elected to the US House of Representatives 1992-2000. In 2000 caused Obama’s first and only political setback

Michael Jordan and Sheila Simon

Endorsed Obama during the choices for the democrat candidate for the US senate

Blair Hull

Opposition during the choice over Democrat candidacy in the US senate. Leading participate until his controversial divorce where his ex wife placed 2 restraining orders on him

Democrat candidacy for the US senate

Obama’s Strengths and Personal qualities:

• Good reputation in Illinois state senate

• natural oratory and personality

Use of media:

• recounted his life story in an effective advertising campaign

• Got high profile endorsements including one from the daughter of a former popular democrat senator

Jack Ryan

Opposition to Obama during elections to US senate. Involved in an acrimonious divorce case with considerable media coverage

Alan Keyes

Replaced Jack Ryan in election for US senate. failed to win over undecided voters due to strong conservative views

Dreams from my Father, The Audacity of Hope

Books released by Obama during his campaign for the US senate

US senate election

Obama’s strengths and personal qualities:

• well educated

• photogenic

• energetic campaign

• charismatic

• experience of community projects

• moderate views

• attractive family

Use of media:

• Democratic National Convention

• Regular TV appearances

• Released books

Democratic national Convention

Obama was the third black American to deliver such a speech to a major convention. All national media were present. Obama was seen as a new style of black American politician speaking of success for all Americans instead of the shortfalls of the past. Received positive media attention

Obama’s election to the senate

His success was impressive as he was the 3rd black senator since reconstruction, He was the 99th in seniority out of 100 at 43 where the average was 60, and the Democrats were the minority

Achievements in the senate

• He gained a seat on the foreign relations committee

• He created a website that tracked federal spending to rebuild trust in the national government

• partnered with Republicans sponsoring a bill to destroy nuclear weaponry in Eastern Europe and Russia

• Created the Political Action Committee

Impact of Obama’s achievements as senator

• The Democrats won the midterm elections

• Democrats had control of the House of Representatives and the Senate

• Democrats had increased their seats from 44 to 51

• Obama gained a reputation for cross party collaboration

• Obama became a sought after campaign speaker

Hillary Clinton

Party favourite in the Democrat presidential primaries. First Lady to Bill Clinton and first female senator for New York 2001 and 2006. Widely popular with an impressive reputation.

However, Clinton was older and had limited use of Online media. whilst being associated with Bill Clinton meant more money and voter recognition, she was also being viewed as a reversal of the past.

She attempted to portray Obama as inexperienced but his campaign team showed him as the candidate for change speaking for the new generation

John Edwards

Opposition during the Democrat presidential primaries. An experienced politician who was running mate to previous Democrat candidate John Kerry. He was a lawyer and Senator for South Carolina and had Souther support as as white southerner

Joe Biden

Senator for Delaware since 1973 and ran in the presidential primaries in 1988 but withdrew due to plagiarism accusations.

Became Obama’s running mate due to his being an experienced senator and to cover Obama’s weaknesses in foreign policy

Obama’s policies

• Obama criticised president Bush arguing that he had taken America in the wrong direction involving them in costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and by 2008 the US economy was in crisis

• Obama promised an emergency economic plan, promoted energy dependence of the US, aimed to create 5 million green jobs, and improve healthcare

• Obama promised to end involvement in IRaq and wanted to turn the tide against global terrorism

Use of social media

This meant Obama was inclusive of all age groups.

450 000 signed up to the online campaign and he gained large numbers of small donations ($6.9 million compared to Clinton’s $4.2million)

Super Tuesday

23 states and American Samoa held their primaries and Obama won 13 to 10

He had also won an overwhelming endorsement from black voters and 55.4% of the vote in South Carolina

Davin Plouffe

He ran Obama’s campaign focussing on a grass roots and a social media campaign

John McCain

The Republican candidate for presidency. He was associated with the Bush administration and paused his campaign to vote on a bailout plan

Sarah Palin

John McCain’s running mate. She intended to appeal to women and gun fans. She had widespread ignorance of key policy, a lack of knowledge in foreign affairs, a lack of experience of national politics, and she made several mistakes during campaign.

Economy

The 2008 recession was the worst economic crisis since after WW2. 60% of voters were mainly concerned over the economy. George Bush asked for powers to allow a bailout plan for US banking which would cost billions of taxpayer dollars. Not only was this economic recession associated with the Republicans but they were tarnished by the Bush administration.

Change we can believe in

A book setting out Obama’s plans which appealed to the wealthy - Warren Buffet said it was the right vision - and to families - Elizabeth Warren said it addressed issues critical to family economic safety.

Obama’s Victory

Obama was not universally beloved as many did not consider him to be ‘one of them’ as his father was Kenyan. He was also criticised for criticising absentee black fathers

However most gave enthusiastic support. Michelle Obama somewhat compensated for his ‘blackness’ as she was African American. There was also universal rejoicing over his presidency

US as a post racial society

Obama was elected only 40 years after black Americans were guaranteed to vote. Many white people voted for him and approval ratings were high. Over 20% of Americans said that his election would improve race relations.

America was not ‘colour-blind’

Obama relied heavily on the minority vote and many of the elderly white voters stayed at home. Obama told white Americans what they wanted to hear including race no longer being a barrier to black achievement and offering redemption to America’s slavery. His election also caused major traffic on white supremacist websites causing them to crash

New York Post controversy

Obama had just introduced a bill to congress to tru and inject federal money into the economy in the hopes of revitalising it. A cartoon was published to the New York times which intended to mock the stimulus bill however it depicted a monkey and many believed that it equated Obama to a monkey. The NAACP called a boycott of the paper.

Professor William Louis Gates

A participant of Obama’s second race controversy. He was arrested by a white policeman for breaking into a house in the wealthy suburbs. But it was Gates’ house and he had lost his keys.

Nearly 75% of the white population thought Obama was taking the black side which damaged his poll ratings

Birther Controversy

The American constitution specified that president had to be American. Right-wingers claimed that Obama was not arguing that he was born in Hawaii before it became a state. In 2009 over 28% of republicans though he was not an American and 30% were unsure. Eleven republican congressmen signed the birther bill which demanded the birth certificates for future presidents

Rainbow Cabinet

Obama’s 21 appointees including 7 women, 4 African Americans, 3 Asians and 2 hispanics. He had a ‘majority minority’ cabinet. This did not elicit much attention as Bill Clinton had introduced the idea to better reflect the composition of the United States.

Healthcare Proposals

Some suggests Race as an issue reappeared in 2009. A South Carolina senator cried “you lie!” when Obama addressed congress. Ex-president Jimmy Carter claimed it was racism and a reluctance to accept the legitimacy of an African American president.