Leaving politics aside-looking at the human side of Obama's road to victory in the Democratic nomination- you cannot but acknowledge that he has managed to influence people around him and create action - against the odds!

This link gives you a little more in depth look at his background and the influences that have putting him in the driving seat in the USA Democratic race...

"He arrived in the city more than two decades ago, a young idealist with an ambition to help the poor _ and maybe, to become a writer.

http://compaq-consumer.aol.co.nz/news/story/Barack-Obama-A-life-of-finding-common-bonds-in-different-worlds/547471/index.html

Barack Obama knew nothing of the Chicago's bare-knuckle politics, but he was a good listener and a quick learner. And he liked to talk about social change.

He entered politics on the very bottom rung of the ladder. As a low-paid community organizer, he agitated for jobs in a depressed steel community, better city services, anything that would help poor people improve their lives." more