Obama

Question 1

when was Obama sworn in as president and which number of president was he

Answer 1

20th January 2009

44th president

Question 2

where was Obama born

Answer 2

hawaii

Question 3

what nationality was Obamas father

Answer 3

Kenyan

Question 4

what was Obamas first success and when

Answer 4

won a seat in the state senate of Illinois 1997-2004

Question 5

which district did Obama win for state senate and why was this significant

Answer 5

13th district
included the south side of Chicago
predominantly black area with areas of poverty and social depravation

Question 6

what did Obama do in his role as state senator

Answer 6

gained a reputation for working with republicans to pass legislation
expanded healthcare and education programmes for the poor
became chairperson for Illinois senate health and human services committee
- in this role improved the rights of suspects held by the police by requiring video-taping police interrogations

Question 7

what was his first electoral setback and explain

Answer 7

tried to become democrat candidate for 1st congressional district of Illinois for the us house of representatives
ran against bobby rush who had founded the black panther party in Chicago
was naïve thinking he could replace rush
but gave Obama an important groundwork for campaigning in the future

Question 8

what did Obama run for in 2004

Answer 8

us senate

Question 9

what was the turning point in obama’s career

Answer 9

gave the keynote speech at the democratic national convention in 2004

Question 10

how did Obama win the primary for senate

Answer 10

at first was behind Blair Hull, a wealthy business man
effective advertising paid for by Obama which recounted his life story
high profile endorsements
hull’s divorce also helped as his ex-wife placed two restraining orders on him and there was a physical quarrel between them
Obama won with 53% of the vote

Question 11

obamas career before 1996

Answer 11

graduated with a degree in political science from Colombia
then worked on the impoverished south side as a community organiser for low-income residents
went to kenya and paid an emotional visit to his fathers grave
returned and entered Harvard law school
1990 was elected first a/a editor of the Harvard law review
after Harvard returned to Chicago to practice as a cvil rights lawyer at a small firm
helped organise voter registration drives during Clintons 1992 campaign

Question 12

who was Obama against in the run for senate (who was the republican opponent) and what happend

Answer 12

jack ryan
involved in a divorce case and accusations from his wife received huge media coverage
withdrew and was replaced by Alan Keyes so Illinois was now being contested by two a/a

Question 13

what was wrong with keyes

Answer 13

media response was almost all negative to keyes

strongly against abortion, gay rights and in favour of increasing the role of religion in society

Question 14

what was Obamas campaign for senate like

Answer 14

positive
grass roots campaign which dealt with local issues
didn’t attack his opponent just ran on a campaign on the issues
positive media image and family

Question 15

what percent of the vote did Obama win in the senate elections 2004

Answer 15

70%

Question 16

what number a/a was Obama in the senate since reconstruction

Answer 16

3rd

Question 17

what did Obama do a senator

Answer 17

had a seat on the foreign relations committee
created a website that tracked federal spending aimed at rebuilding trust on national government after hurricane katrina
voted against troop withdrawal from Iraq
also created a PAC fund for his future run for presidency

Question 18

why did Obama win the primary

-his strengths

Answer 18

assembled a strong team of political professionals committed to professional values
campaigned everywhere -hunted for delegates in every nook and cranny of America
active on the ground campaign
simple streamlined structure harnessed support and effectively used any volunteers
internet
one in every ten Obama primary voters donated money
consistent message of hope, change and inspiration
was a great orator

Question 19

why Obama won the primary - Clinton weaknesses

Answer 19

arrogance
miscalculated the mood of America
underestimated Obama
seemed power hungry
failed to harness online donors
campaign debts
drama and infighting in her team
0nly focused on big states, thought could have sewn up the nomination by super-Tuesday
after super Tuesday failure had no backup plan
lurched, no clear message
competent insider = not popular to the electorate
penn branded Hilary as the experience candidate yet 80% of americans wanted change

Question 20

Why did Obama win the presidency brief (6)

Answer 20

the two term itch
the bush presidency
reight track / wrong track
the palin effect
the economy
the Obama campaign

Question 21

two term itch

Answer 21

only 2 occasions since the civil war has a two-term republican president been followed by another from the same party

Question 22

the bush presidency

Answer 22

very divisive figure
always going to be a big ask for a republican to win after bush
Obama ran on ‘change we can believe in’
fake weapons of mass destruction claims on the Iraq war, Obama never supported the war
2007-8 economic downturn

Question 23

right track / wrong track

Answer 23

75% of americans think America is going in the wrong direction
2008 crash
war

Question 24

palin effect

Answer 24

McCain’s vp
lacked gravitas and experience
seen as unqualified by 60% of the population
indended to address the age issue of McCain but made him look 72 years old
tv appearances made her look stupid - couldn’t answer the easy openers let alone any tough questions
against biden was a very poor choice

Question 25

economy

Answer 25

severe recession 2008

in 2004 40% had said the economy was the most important issue, in 2008 80% thought this

Question 26

the Obama campaign

Answer 26

did not take matching funds which meant he wasn’t constrained by spending limits
innovative use of social media to raise money
millions of small donations from ordinary voters
Obama outspent McCain 4:1 in swing states
excellent orator + photogenic + family

Question 27

how much of the black vote did Obama win

Answer 27

95%

Question 28

how much of the Hispanic vote did Obama win

Answer 28

67%

Question 29

Obama slogans

Answer 29

change we can believe in

yes we can

Question 30

why was biden such a good choice for VP

Answer 30

eclipsed McCains decades of foreign experience

Question 31

Geraldine ferraro quote

Answer 31

if Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position, and if he was a woman he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept

Question 32

michelles slip up

Answer 32

in the first time in my life I am really proud of my country
appeared to be as they were accepting a black man
campaign had to quickly clear up she meant she was proud of the increased popular interest in the political process
obamas campaign was keen to not run a civil rights campaign as a/a only made up 13% of population