The son of a Kenyan father and an American mother from Kansas, he spent part of his childhood in Indonesia and later attended Columbia University and Harvard Law School sister Maya Sutera.

Ng says Obama's life experience makes his candidacy a great opportunity for America t to have someone who is fair, who has a strong respect for the Constitution, who has a strong respect for uh not only the cultures within the United States, but but also the world at large.

Obama's political career was shaped in part by his years as a community organizer and poor neighborhoods of Chicago and is a member of the Illinois state Senate.

He was elected to the U.

S Senate in 2004 the same year he delivered the keynote address to the Democratic National Convention.

I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story that I owe a debt, all of those who came before me and that in no other country on earth is my story even possible.

That speech propelled Obama into the national spotlight.

Frank Mankowitz was press secretary and adviser to the late Senator Robert F.

Kennedy.

He says Obama has the intellect and imagination to be an effective leader and clearly has, uh, uh, great motivations.

And, uh, certainly anybody who's read his books, particularly his first book, has a clear understanding that this is a man with deep emotions and serious lots.

He doesn't just pick up slogans and run with them.

Uh, so in that sense, I think he will do all right.

Obama supporters praise him for speaking to the hopes and ideals of US voters.

One such moment came after he won the Democratic Party caucus in Iowa in January.

They said this day would never come.

They said our sights were set too high.

They said this country was too divided to disillusions toe ever come together around a common purpose.

But on this January night, at this defining moment in history, you have done what the cynics said we couldn't be.

Oh Obama has endured criticism, including for saying he would meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad without conditions.

He has also faced questions about the church he belonged to in Chicago.

His former pastor there, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, made inflammatory remarks about white people and race in America.

Obama denounced those remarks, then recently left the church.

Frank Mankowitz says Obama's biggest challenge may be connecting with working class Americans.

Well, we'll have to worry about health insurance on the price of gasoline and what's happening toe mortgages and foreclosures and all the other things that are really preoccupying Americans now.

And, of course, a war Obama received some good news is the Democratic primary season came to a close?

A new voter opinion survey shows.

If the elections were held today, Obama would beat Senator John McCain, the presumed Republican nominee, by 47 to 44%.

Robert F L A V O e news.