Man in the News: Barack Obama
- Source: Xinhua
- [22:49 November 15 2009]
- Comments
POLITICAL CAREER
Obama made his first attempt for public office in 1996 and won a seat in the Illinois State Senate.
In 2004, Obama beat six Democratic rivals to win the nomination in the congressional elections. That November, he overwhelmingly captured 70 percent of the popular vote in the congressional elections to become a senator.
When Obama announced his bid for the White House on Feb. 10, 2007, in Springfield, Illinois, he was not considered a hopeful compared to other high-profile candidates including former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
But, Obama soon made a headline story by raising 58 million US dollars, setting the record for fundraising by a presidential campaign in the first six months of the calendar year before the elections.
From the campaign started on Jan. 3 till it ended on Aug. 29, Obama strode up to the stage of the Democratic National Convention against all odds, winning presidential nomination and naming then Senator Joe Biden to be his running mate.
Obama's road to the White House was eventually laid out after he easily beat Republican rival John McCain on the election night. However, challenges came even before his presidency started as a worse economic crisis in decades befell to the United States in the fall of 2008.
FIRST-YEAR PRESIDENCY IN AMERICAN PEOPLE'S EYES
"Overall, Obama's first year in his presidency can be approved," said Will Turner, a Virginia resident in his 20's. "Americans understand being a president is a tough job, and would like to give him more time to work on those complicated issues."
It is by no means an easy job to deliver his campaign promises including closing Guantanamo prison, ending the Iraq war, offering universal health care coverage and achieving bipartisan cooperation, let alone in a rough period when the country was facing serious economic meltdown.
American voters, either Republicans or Democrats, have noticed Obama's difficulties in keeping his words and how hard he has tried.
"He is a quick learner and dedicated to his job," said Turner, "He is becoming more practical and realistic after encountering setbacks."
Travor Fitzegibbon, a public relations professional in Washington, D.C., appreciated Obama's resolve to come in the presidency when the country's economy was in a bad shape and tried really hard to make changes happen, especially improving the US international image by forsaking unilateralism.
As a public affairs professor in George Mason University, Mark Rozell's perception of Obama's performance so far was mixed.
"He is a president who has set many big goals with high risks but ran into harsh reality," he said.
However, history has shown that some voters' disappointment over a president's policies does not necessarily draw down the president's popularity. It is the case with Obama.
Despite recent polls signaling decline of Obama's supporting rate, he remains a charismatic leader to most Americans.
"He has great personalities," said Jay Nestlerode, a Republican-leaned engineer, citing Obama's capability to eloquently make his points to public.
Compared to previous presidents, Obama makes himself more accessible and has tried many approaches to better explain his policy decisions to people, Nestlerode said.
