Barack Obama

Political party: Democrat
Born: Aug. 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii

Political experience:

• U.S. senator from Illinois, 2005-present
• Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
• Member, Senate Commitee on Veterans' Affairs
• Member, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
• Member, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
• Illinois state senator, 1997-2004

Work experience:

• Attorney, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, 1993-2004
• Lecturer, University of Chicago Law School, 1993-2004

Education:

• Earned J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1991
• Earned B.A. from Occidental College and Columbia University in 1983

Family:

He and his wife, Michelle, were married on Oct. 18, 1992; they have two daughters -- Malia Ann and Sasha.

Web sites:

• Senate Web site
• Presidential exploratory committee Web site