Barack Obama

Party: Democratic

Age: 48

Job: U.S. senator from Illinois.

Born in Honolulu

Lives: Chicago

Web site: www.barackobama.com

Job history past 10 years:
U.S. Senate 2005-present. Illinois Senate, 13th District 1997-2004. Attorney with Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland 1993-96. Taught constitutional law at University of Chicago Law School 1992-2004. Director, Developing Communities Project 1985-88.

Ever run for public office? When? Outcome?
U.S. Senate 2005-present. Illinois Senate, 13th District, 1997-2004.

Other civic experience or community service:
Consultant and instructor for the Gamaliel Foundation, a community organizing institute.

1) What should be the U.S. course of action in Iraq?
Spoke against war at start, opposed troop increase. Voted against one major military spending bill in May 2007; otherwise voted in favor of money to support the war. Says his plan would complete withdrawal of combat troops in 16 months. Initially had said a timetable for completing withdrawal would be irresponsible without knowing what facts he'd face in office.
On Afghanistan, he would add about 7,000 troops to the U.S. force of 36,000, bringing the reinforcements from Iraq. Has threatened unilateral attack on high-value terrorist targets in Pakistan as they become exposed, "if Pakistan cannot or will not act" against them.
[Associated Press]

2) How would you improve our educational system?
An $18 billion plan that would encourage, but not mandate, universal pre-kindergarten. Teacher pay raises tied to, although not based solely on, test scores. An overhaul of No Child Left Behind law to better measure student progress, make room for non-core subjects like music and art and be less punitive toward failing schools. A tax credit to pay up to $4,000 of college costs for students who perform 100 hours of community service a year. Obama would pay for part of his plan by ending corporate tax deductions for CEO pay. Has backed away from his proposal to save money by delaying NASA's moon and Mars missions.
[Associated Press]

3) What should the U.S. do regarding climate change and global warming?
Ten-year, $150 billion program to produce "climate friendly" energy supplies that he'd pay for with a carbon auction requiring businesses to bid competitively for the right to pollute and aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050. Joined McCain in sponsoring earlier legislation that would set mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions. Increase federal fuel economy requirements beyond 35 mpg.
[Associated Press]

4) How would you get affordable health care to more Americans?
Mandatory coverage for children, no mandate for adults. Aim for universal coverage by requiring employers to share costs of insuring workers and by offering coverage similar to that in plan for federal employees. Says package would cost up to $65 billion a year after unspecified savings from making system more efficient. Raise taxes on wealthier families to pay the cost.
[Associated Press]

5) What energy policy should the U.S. pursue?
Now would consider limited increase in offshore drilling. Opposes drilling in Arctic reserve. Proposes windfall-profits tax on largest oil companies to pay for energy rebate of up to $1,000. Opposed suspension of the gas tax. Proposed releasing 70 million barrels of oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve to boost supplies. Global warming plan would increase energy costs.
[Associated Press]

6) How would you change national tax policy?
Raise income taxes on wealthiest and their capital gains and dividends taxes. Raise corporate taxes. $80 billion in tax breaks mainly for poor workers and elderly, including tripling Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credit for larger families. Eliminate tax-filing requirement for older workers making under $50,000. A mortgage-interest credit could be used by lower-income homeowners who do not take the mortgage-interest deduction because they do not itemize their taxes.
[Associated Press]