Born to a Kenyan father and an American mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, he spent most of his childhood in Honolulu, Hawaii. From ages six to ten, he lived in Jakarta with his mother and Indonesian stepfather. A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Obama worked as a community organizer, University of Chicago lecturer, and civil rights lawyer before running for public office and serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. After an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, he announced his campaign for U.S. Senate in 2003.

The following year, while still an Illinois state legislator, Obama delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2004 with 70% of the vote. As a member of the Democratic minority in the 109th Congress, he co-sponsored bipartisan legislation for controlling conventional weapons and for promoting greater public accountability in the use of federal funds. He also made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In the current 110th Congress, he has sponsored legislation on lobbying and electoral fraud, climate change, nuclear terrorism, and care for returned U.S. military personnel. As of Feb. 21, 2008, Sen. Obama had sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress, of which 15 have become law.

Since announcing his presidential campaign in February 2007, Obama has emphasized ending the Iraq War while maintaining a strong defense abroad, increasing energy independence, and providing universal health care as major priorities.[8] He married in 1992 and has two daughters. He has written two bestselling books: a memoir of his youth titled Dreams from My Father, and The Audacity of Hope, a personal commentary on U.S. politics. (source: Wikipedia)

Interesting Note:
Throughout his early years, he was commonly known at home and school as "Barry". Obama has written two bestselling books. The first, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race And Inheritance, was published before he first ran for public office. His second book, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, was published in October 2006.

Birth name: Barack Hussein Obama, Jr.
Born: August 4, 1961
Where: Honolulu, Hawaii
Spouse: Married Michelle Robinson in 1992 and has two daughters, Malia Ann and Natasha.
Alma Mater: Columbia University and Harvard Law School