Obama’s Campaign for the Presidency, 2000–09

What was the percentage change in African Americans completing college in the late 1900s?

In 1970, only 12% whereas in 1990, 25%

Name 3 states that had African American Mayors in the 1970s?

Detroit (1973), LA (1973), WDC (1974)

What was the number of African American congress men during 1990-92?

1990, 45 whereas in 1992 it was 69

How many African Americans lived below the poverty line?

1/3

What was the percentage of African Americans in prison?

12% of US was African American, and 6% was in prison

What were the pull factors to the South and how many migrated during the 1990s?

Quality of life, economic prospects, call to home, climate and geography, 3 million migrated south

Describe Obama’s early life

Born in 1961 in Hawaii to a white Arkansas mother and a Black Kenyan father, moved to Indonesia in 1967, went to Harvard Law School, organised a voter drive that registered over 100,000

Describe Obama’s journey to the Illinois state senate

In 1996 he ran successfully defecting the formed incumbent an African American, he was elected for the 13^th District – South Side of Chicago, he served from 1997 to 2004, focused on welfare legislation, discrimination, universal healthcare, and won conservative support for a new law against racial discrimination

Why did Obama fail to enter the House of Representatives?

In 2000 he tried for the 1^st District, a seat held by Bobby Rush a founding Black Panther, Rush won by 60% to Obama’s 31% using the ‘not black enough’ argument

Describe the Race for the US Senate in 2006

He faced Republican Jack Ryan, Obama’s profile was raised by his speech at the Democrat Convention in July, he won with 70% to Keyes, winning in 92 out of 102 counties, he was the only 3^rd black senator since Reconstruction, rebuilt trust after Katrina and created Hopefund raising $1.8 million

What was the impact of Obama’s Keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention?

Happened in July 2004, ‘Audacity of hope’, appealed to all Americans through references to history, new style of black American politician not linked to radicalism

Who was Hiliary Clinton?

Wife of former President Bill Clinton (1993-2001), elected in 2001as first female senator for New Yor, 55% were ready to elect a female president in 2006 poll

Who was John Edwards?

Ran for nomination in 2004 but defeated, white southerner, trailed Clinton by 11 points

Who was Joe Biden?

Senator for Delaware since 1973, ran for nomination in 1988 but withdrew due o accusations that his plagiarised his speeches from British labour leader Neil Kinnock

What were Clinton’s Errors?

Modelled after bill’s 1992 campaign, ignored internet, raised $108 million to Obama’s $140, had 2 pollsters – Obama had 4, her husband was a loose cannon, focused on her senate seat

What were Obama’s successes in the primary?

Grass-roots campaigning using the internet, by spring 2007 over 450,000 had signed up to his campaign online, raised $6.9 million compared to Clinton’s $4.2, slogan ‘Yes We Can’ attractive across ethnic and social groups

Describe the race for Democratic Nomination in 2008

Obama won Iowa caucus 38% to 29%, then lost New Hampshire primary, on Super Tuesday on the 5^th February key endorsements from the Kennedy’s let him win 13 states to Clinton’s 10, overall he secured 1157 delegates to Clinton's 1039 clinching the nomination.

What was the 2008 financial crisis and what were Bush and McCain’s response?

60% voters said it was their main concern, in September the Lehman Brothers bank failed caused GDP to shrink to -3.8% and 10% unemployment, Bush asked Congress for a bailout plan costing taxpayers billion, McCain suspended his campaign in Sept to return to DC to vote on relief backage, this benefited Obama who advocated for change  

Who was Sarah Palin?

Former Alaskan governor, initial polls rose so he led by 48% to 45%, but she tanked the campaign, didn’t know Africa was a continent, called Obama a terrorist, teenage pregnant daughter scandal

Who did Obama choose as VP?

Joe Bien to ‘balance the ticket’, experience in foreign affairs where Obama was weak

Outcome of the Presidential Race

Obama won 365 electoral votes 52% to 162 and 48%, first democrat to win an absolute majority of the popular vote since Jimmy Carter in 1976

Describe the Bush Effect

Public feared republicans would continue his unpopular policies of Iraq, financial crisis blamed on Republican ‘light touch’

What were Obama’s policies?

Emphasis on change from Bush, against Iraq/Afghanistan wards, new decisive leadership, emergency economic plan, promote energy independence with 5 million ‘green jobs’

What voter groups did Obama appeal to and how much did he raise?

44% white vote, 54% of under 30 white vote, 95% black American, 65% Latino, 3 million donors, $650 million total, outspent Cain 4 to 7

Impact of Obama’s election

125,000 organised in Grant Park, Chicago to hear result, won Nobel Peace Prize in Oct 2009, ‘free at last’, 70% said his election would improve race relations, elected president 40 years after Blacks were guaranteed the vote