Election 2008 - Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, War in Iraq, Health Care, Global Warming, Education, Abortion

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Election Information by State

Upcoming Primaries

5/6 Indiana, North Carolina

5/13 Nebraska (R), W. Virginia (D)

5/18 Hawaii (R)

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Quick Facts

Age: 47

Party: Democratic Party

Marital Status:
Married to Michelle, 15 years

Wedding Date:
Sunday, October 18, 1992

Children:
Malia Ann, 8; Natasha, 6

Education:
BA Political Science, Columbia University, 1983; Magna Cum Laude, Harvard University Law, 1991

Birthplace:
Honolulu, Hawaii

Barack Obama

Where's he from? After growing up for most of his childhood in Hawaii with his mother, a budding Barack Obama went East for school, first to Columbia University and then onto Harvard Law School.

Did you know? After graduating, Obama worked as a civil rights lawyer in Illinois (where he met Michelle) before stepping into the political realm.

Political experience? He was sworn in as Illinois state senator in 2005, and though his resume looks short, Obama sponsored 152 bills and resolutions before the Congress and cosponsored 427 others in 2005 and 2006 alone.

Hot issues? During the campaign, Obama has stressed that foreign policy, the war in Iraq, and health care reform among his top priorities.

Photo courtesy of BarackObama.com

Issue	Position
Abortion	Supports abortion rights.

Education	Supports a plan that would give grants to schools to try new teaching methods and award good teachers, as well as to increase the maximum Pell Grant to students entering college.

Environment-Energy	Supports a national plan that would require transportation fuels to contain lower carbon levels, as well as a limit on greenhouse gas emissions.

Health Care	Supports a national health care plan that would allow the uninsured to buy into private health care and cover all children.

Immigration	Wants increased border control, employment eligibility verification, and a decrease of incentives for illegal aliens. Supports increasing the number of immigrants allowed into the U.S.; creating a path to citizenship for those that meet set requirements; and expedited citizenship for non-citizens who served in the military overseas.

Iraq War	Has always opposed use of military force in Iraq. Supports a phased redeployment of U.S. troops.

Same-sex Marriage	Opposes same-sex marriage, but supports same-sex unions. Opposes a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage.

Taxes	Opposes extending 2003 Bush tax cuts. Supports extending child tax credits and eliminating marriage penalty. Wants to scale back capitol gains and dividends tax cuts and re-examine tax benefits for the top 1% income bracket.

Women's Rights	Supports a bill that would require businesses to hire more women and minorities.

Hilary for VP? "Just curious if you want her to run on the ticket..." read more on The Knot boards

Should Obama Pay Clinton's Debt? "Is it customary for a former member..." read more on The Nest boards

Views on Illegal Immigration? "I personally have no problem..." read more on Wedding Channel boards