Introduction

Obama Election and Attendant Circumstances This book was largely drafted during the transition period between the historic election of Barack Obama and his inauguration as president of the United States. The election of Barack Obama was heralded worldwide as a transforming time for America. By any standard, this is true. Only in America can a man with Obama’s obvious intellectual and political skills rise from almost obscurity into the position of the “leader of the free world.” President Obama’s personal story has inspired millions. He is a remarkable man with extraordinary skills. His election represents a rather dramatic shift from the insular, inarticulate, but incredibly focused Bush administration.