Barack Obama

WASHINGTON (AP) - His name etched in history as America's first black president-elect, Barack Obama turned Wednesday from victory's jubilation to the sobering challenge of leading a nation in crisis. The 44th president-in-waiting kept a low profile while Americans and the world took in the enormity of the election. "The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep," Obama told a victory rally of 125,000 people jammed into Chicago's Grant Park. Election Night Slideshow Video of Obama's Speech Young and charismatic but with little experience on the national level or as an executive, Obama easily defeated Republican John McCain, smashing records and remaking history along the way. Ending an improbable journey that started for Obama a long 21 months ago, he drew a record-shattering $700 million to his campaign account alone.

PERSONAL Birthdate: August 4, 1961; Honolulu, Hawaii (Age: 47) Education: Columbia University, B.A. (1983); Harvard Law School, J.D. (1991) Military: None Family: Married (Michelle Obama); Two children (Malia and Sasha) Hometown: Chicago, Ill. Religion: Christian CAREER 44th President of the United States (2009-?) U.S. Senator from Illinois (2005-2008) Illinois State Senator (1997-2004) Senior Lecturer, University of Chicago Law School (1996-2008)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Barack Obama is declaring himself the Democratic presidential nominee in a long-time-coming victory speech while reaching out to defeated rival Hillary Rodham Clinton. The Illinois senator is sending his Republican rival an unmistakable message by delivering the speech in the very hall where John McCain will accept his party's nomination in early September. In remarks prepared for delivery Tuesday night, Obama said Clinton is "a leader who inspires millions of Americans.

Eyewitness News (WICHITA, Kan.) Wednesday night's 30 minute video from Barack Obama was cut short by one minute.   It was not intentional by KWCH, but rather a timing error due to miscommunication with CBS.  We apologize for the mistake.  To watch the video in its entirety, click here .

CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric spoke with President-elect Barack Obama before the election. She asked him where he stands on the most pressing issues facing The United States. The following is information collected from those interviews and from Obama's campaign web site. Proposes to withdraw or redeploy all troops in phases within 16 months Would leave behind a small, residual, force Opposed the troop surge strategy.  

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) - A former Hutchinson News photographer returns to the White House for a second time as the official presidential photographer. Fifty-four-year-old Pete Souza (SOO'-zuh) first served as chief White House photographer for the late President Ronald Reagan. This week Souza accepted the request of President-elect Barack Obama to return to the White House in the same capacity. Souza told the News Tuesday that the invitation came in a telephone call from Robert Gibbs, incoming White House press secretary.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Barack Obama has arrived in Washington at the end of a majestic train ride across the frigid mid-Atlantic seaboard, moving another step closer to the presidency. Celebratory crowds braved subfreezing weather to salute Obama along his 137-mile journey to the nation's capital from Philadelphia. For his part, Obama often couched his moment of triumph in sobering words, saying the country is burdened by staggering problems like the economy, global warming and war. He will take the oath of office in three days, succeeding George W. Bush.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) - John McCain and Barack Obama were both big hits today at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials in Washington. Each got a standing ovation at their separate appearances. The Arizona Republican spoke first, touting his border state credibility on the immigration issue. He pledged to overhaul the country's broken immigration system as his "top priority" and said that includes more than just securing the borders. Later, Barack Obama told the group that his GOP rival had walked away from comprehensive immigration reform.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President-elect Barack Obama has named longtime spokesman Robert Gibbs as White House press secretary. Gibbs went to work for Obama's Senate campaign in 2004 and was communications director while Obama was in the Senate. Obama rounded out his White House communications team Saturday with one outside and one insider. The outsider is Ellen Moran, who will be director of communications at the White House - in charge of getting Obama's message out. She is executive director of the Washington group EMILY's List - a group that backs female candidates who support abortion rights.

CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric spoke with President-elect Barack Obama before the election. She asked him where he stands on the most pressing issues facing The United States. The following is information collected from those interviews and from Obama's web site. Would eliminate Bush tax cuts for families making more than $250,000 Proposes $500 tax credits for workers making less than $150,000 Eliminate income taxes for seniors making less than $50,000 Proposes 2% Social Security tax on those making more than $250,000 Proposes raising top tax rate to more than 39%; second highest tax rate to 36%

Those who couldn't travel to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration had a chance to join the celebrations right here in Wichita.  It was part of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr, Day service at the WSU Hughes Metroplex. "This is a part of history today as we celebrate the legacy of one and we celebrate the vision of the other," said Wichita's Vice Mayor Lavonta Williams about the coinciding dates. "It's what the Bible says, all men were created equal," said Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer.

Full Name: Barack Hussein Obama Born: August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii Official Website: www.barackobama.com barackobama @BARACKOBAMA Biography: Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States. He is seeking a second term in office. In 2008, President Obama defeated Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton's powerful primary campaign and surged ahead of Republican Sen. John McCain in the general election to become the first African-American president in U.S. history.

The Kansas National Guard's 184th Intelligence Wing has dedicated its Intelligence Complex to the former U.S. Secretary of Defense Dr. Robert M. Gates. Gates was the guest of honor at Wednesday's ceremony at McConnell Air Force Base. Gates served as Defense Secretary under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama between 2006 and 2011. He was director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 1991 to 1993.     The three-building complex at McConnell Air Force Base is home to more than 350 airmen who help produce intelligence information collected by various manned and unmanned aircraft.

A Yahoo blog called The Signal is predicting that Barack OBama will will the general election this November. The writer even tallies the electoral votes this way...Obama with 303 and the Republican nomnee with 235. I'm not asking if it matters to you who wins...or who your preference for the White House would be. The question is, does such a prediction make any difference to you? Does it in ANY way change your view of the political landscape? If it turns out to be accurate, will you pay more attention to future predictions from a source like this.

By Eyewitness News A year ago, Barack Obama was elected President of the United States. Tuesday night's election results may show the president's influence... or lack thereof. In Virginia, Republican Bob McDonnell beat out Democrat Creigh Deeds, who had President Obama's support. Voters in Virginia said the economy was a bigger factor in their decision than President Obama. In New Jersey, Republican Chris Christie beat out incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine.

Here Are The Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #15980 Geography Surveyed: Kansas Data Collected: 10/28/2009 - 10/29/2009 Release Date: 11/01/2009 16:15 ET Sponsors: KCTV-TV Kansas City, KWCH-TV Wichita   1.   Asked of 600 Adults   Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.1%...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Continuing a White House ritual, President George W. Bush is leaving a note in the Oval Office for President-elect Barack Obama, wishing him well as he takes the reins of the executive branch. Bush wrote the note on Monday and left it in the top drawer of his desk. The White House is not providing the intimate details of the message the two-term Republican left for the incoming Democrat. White House press secretary Dana Perino said the theme of the note is similar to what Bush has said since election night about how Obama is about to start a "fabulous new chapter" in the United States, and that he wishes him well.

My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.  I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.  Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.  The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace.  Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former President George W. Bush and his wife have left Washington for their Texas home, after eight years in the White House. Following the inauguration of Barack Obama as the nation's 44th president, Bush and his wife Laura boarded a helicopter alongside the U.S. Capitol. The new president and his wife walked them to the chopper - keeping with tradition - to see them off. The Bushes are first headed to Midland, Texas, for a homecoming celebration in the city that hosted a send-off for them eight years ago. Then they'll go to their ranch in Crawford for their first night as private citizens again.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President-elect Barack Obama says there can't be any "idle hands" at a time when so many people are enduring hardships. During a visit to an emergency homeless shelter for teens in the nation's capital, Obama said that given the "crisis" the nation is facing, "everybody's going to have to pitch in. " And he said Americans are "ready to do that. " He spoke of thousands of volunteer organizations and projects that are at work on this holiday in memory of Martin Luther King Jr., a day on which Obama is pushing for commitments to public service.