Obama is widely viewed as being the voice for change in the 2008 presidential election, promising a breath of fresh air after eight years under the Republican administration of George W. Bush. Obama promises change in areas like healthcare, foreign and domestic economic policy. He's gained a lot of support for his focus on ending the war in Iraq and bringing the troops home.

Barack Obama has received numerous endorsements from the entertainment community, including backing from well-regarded celebrities such as George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Dylan. Obama has chosen Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate.

During his campaign, Obama met with controversy via his association with Pastor Jeremiah Wright, famous for making racially insensitive remarks before his congregation. Obama also came under fire for comments his wife made, indicating she had not been proud of her country until her husband made a serious bid for the presidency and received widespread popular support from democrats and political fence-riders alike.

From the Republican side Barack Obama has been derided for being an elitist, despite his under-dog status as the biracial son of a Kenyan immigrant and a white woman from Kansas.

The slogan for Obama's campaign is "Change we can believe in," a rallying cry to an America tired of the status quo that Obama's republican opponent, John McCain promises to maintain.