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CHAPTER 1: THE ASCENT
4 reference to article on red and blue America: Thomas Edsall, Washington Post, April 2003.
6 “He definitely has this . . . ,”: Robert Gibbs discussion with author, December 2006.
7 “He’s always wanted . . . ,”: Valerie Jarrett interview with author, May 2005.
9 “Hours before he gave . . . ,”: Clarence Page interview, The Chris Matthews Show, NBC News, October 2006.
10 “It’s like nothing . . . ,”: Julian Green interview with author, January 2007.
10 “We originally scheduled . . . ,”: John Lynch at Manchester, New Hampshire, fund-raiser, December 2006.
10 “I can’t, for example, walk . . . ,”: Barack Obama interview with author, December 2006.
10 “For us . . . he hasn’t . . . ,”: Auma Obama interview with author, August 2006.
11 “It’s like you are carrying . . . ,”: David Axelrod interview with author, December 2006.
11 “David always worries . . . ,”: Axelrod confidante in discussion with author, January 2007.
11 “Let us transform . . . ,”: Obama at a presidential announcement in Springfield, Illinois, January 2007.
13 “People don’t come . . . ,”: Bruce Reed quoted in “Destiny’s Child” article by Ben Wallace-Wells, Rolling Stone, February 2007.
CHAPTER 2: DREAMS FROM HIS MOTHER
17 “After all, you don’t . . . ,”: Barack Obama, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance (New York: Random House, 1995).
18 “I wrote four hundred . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, January 2004.
19 “When my tears . . . ,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
20 “There’s still a great deal . . . ,”: Michelle Obama discussion with author, February 2004.
23 “New-fangled gadgets . . . ,”: Madelyn Dunham interview with author, October 2004.
23 “International law . . . ,”: Dunham interview with author, October 2004.
24 “His mother was . . . ,”: Ibid.
24 “It’s always hard to talk . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, August 2005.
24 “Everything that is good . . . ,”: Obama during Mom’s Rising event in Washington, D.C., September 2006.
24 “I think sometimes . . . ,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
25 “It was this desire . . . ,”: Ibid.
25 “She was extremely brilliant . . . ,”: Dunham interview with author, October 2004.
25 “I remember one time . . . ,”: Maya Soetoro-Ng interview with author, October 2004.
26 “Her feet never . . . ,”: Dunham interview with author, October 2004.
26 “vaguely liberal,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
26 “It wasn’t at all . . . ,”: Soetoro-Ng interview with author, October 2004.
27 “With her friends . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, August 2005.
27 “She was not exactly . . . ,”: Dunham interview with author, October 2004.
28 “I assume . . . ,”: Soetoro-Ng discussion with author, October 2004.
29 “I am a little dubious . . . ,”: Dunham interview with author, October 2004.
29 “the first large wave . . . ,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
30 “What my father became . . . ,”: Auma Obama interview with author, August 2006.
30 Obama speech reference: University of Nairobi in Nairobi, Kenya, August 2006.
31 “A lot of grandiose . . . ,”: Dunham interview with author, October 2004.
CHAPTER 3: JUST CALL ME BARRY
32 “Hawaii was heaven . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, August 2005.
33 “I learned how to eat . . . ,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
33 “I think [Indonesia] . . . ,”: Obama interview on Fresh Air, National Public Radio, August 2004.
33 “Men take advantage . . . ,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
33 “The world was violent . . . ,”: Ibid.
34 “To be black . . . ,”: Ibid.
36 “We never suffered . . . ,”: Dunham interview with author, October 2004.
37 “Hawaii is such . . . ,”: Soetoro-Ng discussion with author, October 2004.
39 “My father’s absence . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2003.
40 “Every man is trying . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2003.
41 “He wasn’t this . . . ,”: Keith Kakugawa, Nightline, ABC News, April 2007.
42 “He was just . . . ,”: Bobby Titcomb interview with author, August 2004.
42 “You know, in Hawaii . . . ,”: Ibid.
43 “I suppose I provided . . . ,”: Dunham interview with author, August 2004.
43 “I was trying . . . ,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
44 “Some of the problems . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, October 2004.
45 “Hey, don’t touch the ’fro!”: Soetoro-Ng interview with author, August 2004.
45 “On the basketball . . . ,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
45 “I used to know . . . ,”: Dunham interview with author, August 2004.
45 “dabbled in drugs . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, February 2004.
46 “This was really . . . ,”: Dunham interview with author, August 2004.
46 “Just call me Barry . . . ,”: Eric Kusunoki interview with author, August 2004.
47 “I recall his sincere . . . ,”: Chris McLachlin interview with author, August 2004.
48 “I got into a fight . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, October 2004.
48 “There’s still something . . . ,”: Julian Green discussion with author, October 2004.
48 “He would have been . . . ,”: Arne Duncan interview with author, January 2006.
49 “I recall that . . . ,”: Suzanne Maurer interview with author, October 2004.
49 “We agreed . . . ,”: Ibid.
CHAPTER 4: THE MAINLAND
50 “I’ll admit . . . ,”: Dunham interview with author, October 2004.
50 “childhood dream”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
50 “It could seem . . . ,”: Soetoro-Ng interview with author, October 2004.
51 “We’re disenfranchised . . . ,”: Dunham interview with author, October 2004.
51 “Just an all-around . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, October 2004.
51 “Maya’s just . . . ,”: Nora Moreno-Cargie discussion with author, October 2004.
52 “I just love . . . ,”: Ibid.
54 “Hawaii has ideas . . . ,”: Soetoro-Ng interview with author, October 2004.
54 “She just didn’t . . . ,”: Ibid.
55 “At best, these . . . ,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
56 “They weren’t defined . . . ,”: Ibid.
56 “California blacks . . . ,”: Don Terry discussion with author, November 2003.
57 “Obama is a . . . ,”: Scott Fornek discussion with author, February 2004.
57 “When we ground out . . . ,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
57 “I noticed that people . . . ,”: Ibid.
58 “The schools . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, February 2004.
58 “He seemed to have gotten . . . ,”: Dunham interview with author, October 2004.
58 “Moving to the mainland . . . ,”: Soetoro-Ng interview with author, October 2004.
58 “Do you mind . . . ,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
59 “put down stakes . . . ,”; Obama interview with author, October 2004.
59 “I had two . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, August 2005.
60 “Barack put himself . . . ,”: Green interview with author, November 2004.
60 “My philosophy . . . ,”: Roger Boesche interview with author, June 2005.
61 “Nietzsche calls . . . ,”: Ibid.
61–62 “I knew that . . .”, “There were people who . . .”, and “Those two years . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, August 2005.
62 “I would imagine myself as . . . ,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
63 “Could this be . . . ,”: Jerry Kellman interview with author, March 2006.
CHAPTER 5: THE ORGANIZER
65, 66 “One of the things . . . ,” and “All I had . . . ,”: Kellman interview with author, March 2006.
66 Roseland material adapted from “Rich 90s Failed to Lift All,” Chicago Tribune, David Mendell/Darnell Little, August 2002.
67 Rules for Radicals, Saul Alinsky (New York: Random House, 1971).
68 “Once I found an issue . . . ,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
68 “It wasn’t until . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, October 2004.
69 “The first day . . . ,”: Jeremiah Wright interview with author, November 2006.
69 “disaster . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, October 2004.
70 “I’m here to do . . . ,” and “Baby Face,”: Kellman interview with author, March 2006.
71 “He was our . . . ,”: Callie Smith interview with author, October 2004.
71 “Jerry Kellman is . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, August 2006.
72–74 “Barack wanted to serve . . . ,” and Kellman material: Kellman interview with author, March 2006.
74 “So I figured . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, August 2006.
75 “I came to realize . . . ,”: Barack Obama, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (New York: Crown, 2006).
76 “Trying to hold . . . ,” and Wright material: Wright interview with author, November 2006.
77 “It’s a great book . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, August 2006.
77 “Faith to him . . . ,”: Wright interview with author, November 2006.
78 “slumbering giant . . ,” and continuing quotation: Barack Obama, “After Alinsky: Community Organizing in Illinois,” Illinois Issues, University of Illinois at Springfield, 1990.
CHAPTER 6: HARVARD
80 “Ain’t nothing gonna . . . ,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
82 “Everywhere black people . . . ,”: Ibid.
82 “I just can’t . . . ,”: Titcomb interview with author, October 2004.
84 “He was mature . . . ,”: Michael Froman interview with author, January 2007.
84 Some Harvard material from “In Law School, Obama Found Political Voice,” Jodi Kantor, New York Times, January 2007.
85 “command centre . . . ,”: “Pinkos and Pistols,” The Economist, April 2002.
85–86 Laurence Tribe material: Kantor, New York Times, January 2007.
86 “But you know, once . . . ,”: Cassandra Butts interview with author, December 2006.
87 “Diversity is enriching . . . ,”: “The Rudeness of Race,” Chicago Tribune Magazine, February 11, 1996.
87 “You know, whether we’re . . . ,”: Butts interview with author, December 2006.
88 “Conservatives and libertarians . . . ,”: The Federalist Society mission statement, 1982.
89 “was populated by . . . would-be . . . ,”: Brad Berenson quoted in “In Law School,” Kantor, New York Times, January 2007.
90, 91 “Barack always floated. . . ,” and “He did show great . . . ,”: Berenson interview with author, January 2007.
91 “On the Law Review . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, October 2004.
92 “He wanted to be mayor . . . ,”: Butts interview with author, December 2006.
CHAPTER 7: SWEET HOME CHICAGO
93, 94 “He sounded too good . . . ,” and “I thought . . . ,”: Michelle Obama interview with author, January 2004.
95 “this kind of stability”: Kellman interview with author, March 2006.
95, 96 “We always felt . . .” and “Dad said . . . ,”: Craig Robinson interview with author, November 2005.
98, 99 “I call him. . . ,” and “I told him . . . ,”: Michelle Obama interview with author, January 2004.
99, 100, 101 “My mom and I . . . ,” “He was tall . . . ,” “Barack’s game . . . ,” and “Barack was like . . . ,”: Robinson interview with author, November 2005.
101 “Barack treated . . . ,”: Michelle Obama interview with author, January 2004.
102 “If you are biracial . . . ,”: Kellman interview with author, March 2006.
103 “There are times . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, October 2004.
104 “What I notice . . . ,”: Michelle Obama quoted in “Her Plan Went Awry, But Michelle Obama Doesn’t Mind,” Cassandra West, Chicago Tribune, September 2004.
104 “You always think . . . ,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
105 “Leave your name . . . ,”: Judson Miner quoted in “Obama Got Start in Civil Rights Practice,” Mike Robinson, Associated Press, February 2007.
106 “The courts are . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, October 2004.
CHAPTER 8: POLITICS
107 “Upon my return . . . ,”: Obama, Dreams from My Father.
108–110 Alice Palmer material: Sunya Walls, “Alice Palmer Withdraws from Race for Re-election,” Chicago Weekend, Chicago Citizen Newspaper Group, January 1996.
109 “Since she endorsed . . . ,”: Obama quoted in the “Inc.” column, Chicago Tribune, Judy Hevrdejs and Mike Conklin, December 1995.
110 “I’ve since discovered . . . ,”: Alice Palmer quoted in “Candidate Not What He Seems, Foes Insist,” Salim Muwakkil, Chicago Sun-Times, February 1996.
112–113 “The political debate. . . ,” and “Any solution . . . ,”: Obama quoted by Hank De Zutter in the Chicago Reader, December 1995.
114 “vacuous-to-repressive . . . ,”: Muwakkil, February 1996.
115 “at the swearing-in . . . ,”: Illinois politico discussion with author, January 2004.
115, 117, 118 “I am thinking . . . ,” “I said . . . ,” “We are driving . . . ,” “He’s not . . . ,” and “It was just a great . . . ,”: Dan Shomon interview with author, January 2005. 119 “Buy him a black . . . ,”: Michelle Obama interview with author, January 2004.
119 “So I asked . . . ,”: Shomon interview with author, January 2005.
120 “My grandmother . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, August 2004.
CHAPTER 9: THE LEGISLATOR
121 “The fact that . . . ,”: Kirk Dillard interview with author, September 2004.
122 “It wasn’t like . . . ,”: Shomon interview with author, January 2005.
122 “The first few years . . . ,”: Rich Miller quoted in “How Obama Learned to Be a Natural,” Edward McClelland, Salon.com, February 2007.
123 “He didn’t think . . . ,”: Obama associate interview with author, 2004.
124 “This sets the standard . . . ,”: Obama quoted in Associated Press, May 1998.
125 “just give Barack hell . . . ,”: Kimberly Lightford interview with author, March 2007.
126 “I have been advised . . . ,”: Rickey Hendon interview with author, September 2006.
127 “Obama is interested . . . ,”: Don Wiener opposition research report, 2004.
127 “He is idealistic . . . ,”: John Bouman interview with author, September 2004.
127 “I always found . . . ,”: Joe Birkett discussion with author, October 2006.
128 “The most important . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, September 2004.
128 “Members of both . . . ,”: Dillard interview with author, September 2004.
131 “Barack is viewed . . . ,”: Donne Trotter quoted in “Is Bobby Rush in Trouble?” Ted Kleine, Chicago Reader, March 2000.
131 “There are whispers . . . ,”: Kleine, March 2000.
132 “rising star . . . ,”: editorial, Chicago Tribune, March 2000.
132 “What was interesting . . . ,”: Kellman interview with author, March 2006.
132 “What’s fascinating . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, October 2004.
132 “What I’ve found . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, January 2004.
134 “I’ll never forget . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, February 2004.
134 “There was just . . . ,”: Shomon interview with author, January 2005.
136 “I’m angered, frankly . . . ,”: George Ryan quoted in “Ryan Comes Up Short,” Rick Pearson/Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, December 1999.
136 “Sen. Barack Obama . . . ,”: editorial, Chicago Tribune, March 2000.
136 “This vote was . . . ,”: Bobby Rush, quoted in Chicago Tribune, December 1999.
137 “I cannot sacrifice . . . ,”: Obama in press conference, January 2000.
137 “Proving the political . . . ,”: David Mendell, “Obama Defends Decision to Miss Anti-Crime Vote,” Chicago Tribune, January 2000.
138 “Less than halfway . . . ,”: Obama, The Audacity of Hope.
138–139 Congressional debate material: Rush-Obama-Trotter debate video courtesy of WTTW-TV, Chicago.
139 “Just what’s . . . ,”: Ibid.
CHAPTER 10: THE NEW ROCHELLE TRAIN
141 “Bobby just ain’t . . . ,” and “It made me realize . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, October 2004.
141 “Barack, you didn’t . . . ,”: Wright interview with author, November 2006.
142 “In his race . . . ,”: Abner Mikva interview with author, October 2004.
144 “I was broke . . . ,”: Obama press interviews in Boston, July 2004.
144 “He is motivated . . . ,”: Shomon interview with author, January 2005.
145 “I’m sure . . . ,”: Dunham interview with author, October 2004.
146 “There were a range . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, October 2004.
147 “Emil is driven . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, February 2004.
147 “I am blessed . . . ,”: Emil Jones Jr. discussion with author, February 2004.
148 “He always talked . . . ,”: Kellman interview with author, March 2006.
149 “I am thinking . . . ,”: Shomon interview with author, January 2005.
CHAPTER 11: THE CANDIDATE
150 “I put Michelle . . . ,” and “Suddenly Adelstein’s . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2004.
151 “The big issue . . . ,” and “Ultimately . . . ,”: Michelle Obama interview with author, December 2006.
152 “So I told Dan . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2004.
153–154 “Barack says he wants . . . ,” “I guarantee . . . ,” and “So we all said . . . ,”: Marty Nesbitt interview with author, October 2005.
155 “We had known Barack . . . ,”: Penny Pritzker interview with author, February 2006.
157 “We were pulling . . . ,”: David Axelrod discussion with author, December 2004.
157 “If I were you . . . ,”: David Axelrod from author interview with Obama, December 2004.
158 “There was no way . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2004.
158 “But the problem was . . . ,”: Obama confidante discussion with author, early 2005.
158 “She felt that [Obama] . . . ,”: Axelrod interview with author, December 2004.
159 “My name should . . . ,”: Obama from author interview with Wright, November 2006.
160 “He had gone . . . ,”: Wright interview with Manya Brachear of the Chicago Tribune, October 2006.
161 “I didn’t grow up . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2004.
CHAPTER 12: THE CONSULTANT
165 “Guys I Never Want . . . ,”: Ed Rollins, Bare Knuckles and Back Rooms (New York: Broadway, 1996).
165 “I just wanted to go . . . ,”: Axelrod interview with the author, June 2005.
167 “Dad never shared . . . ,”: David Axelrod, “The Truth about My Father’s Death,” Chicago Tribune, June 2006.
167 “It was just all about . . . ,”: Axelrod discussion with author, January 2004.
169 “David was in his glory . . . ,”: lobbyist discussion with author, December 2004.
170 “He was a meal . . . ,”: Axelrod discussion with author, December 2004.
170, 171 “I would have made . . . ,” and “You know, I hear . . . ,”: Axelrod interview with author, December 2004.
173 “He came in . . . ,” and “When he speaks . . . ,”: Bettylu Saltzman interview with author, April 2005.
174 “there will be . . . ,” and “I knew that this . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2004.
176–177 “That’s the speech . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, August 2006.
178 “Bought himself . . . ,”: Obama quoted in “Legislator in Race to Unseat Fitzgerald,” Pearson/Chase, Chicago Tribune, January 2003.
178–179 “My involvement was . . . ,” and “In a classic way . . . ,”: Axelrod interview with author, December 2004.
CHAPTER 13: THE RACE FACTOR
180 Jones–Obama conversation: Jones interview with author, January 2007.
181 “Being in the majority . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2004.
182 “This Senate thing . . . ,”: Shomon in interview with author, January 2005.
183 “I’m sure . . . ,”: Axelrod discussion with author, November 2004.
183 “We were dead . . . ,”: Nate Tamarin interview with author, December 2004.
184–185 Jim Cauley quotes: Cauley interview with author, December 2004.
186 “As a politician . . . ,”: Chicago Sun-Times, Laura Washington column, September 2003.
187 “There is going to be . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, August 2005.
187 “It’s been mentioned . . . ,”: David Katz discussion with author, June 2005.
188 “I am not running . . . ,”: Obama at Mars Hill Baptist Church, Chicago, November 2003.
188–189 “We just assume . . . ,”: Obama at South Suburban Chicago campaign office, January 2004.
189 “It was the first . . . ,”: Cynthia Miller interview with author, April 2005.
190–191 “The anger and frustration . . . ,”: Michelle Obama interview with author, August 2005.
CHAPTER 14: THE REAL DEAL
193 “Don’t blame Pam . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, November 2003.
195 “Hey, I’m doing . . . ,”: Obama to passerby in Chicago, November 2003.
199, 200, 202 “Well go ahead . . . ,” “I think politics . . . ,” and “When I see . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2003.
204 “It worked on two . . . ,”: Axelrod interview with author, December 2003.
205 “My moment . . . ,”: Cauley quoted in “Race Against History” by Noam Scheiber in The New Republic, May 2004.
CHAPTER 15: HULL ON WHEELS
207 “Barack has taken . . . ,”: Tom Balanoff interview with author, January 2004.
208 “The legislature . . . ,”: Obama at Senate debate, January 2004.
210 “Don’t you think . . . ,”: from Illinois political consultant discussion with author, June 2005.
211 “Noah’s Ark . . . ,”: Mark Blumenthal interview with author, January 2007.
211 Hull material adapted from “Hull Proves Money No Object in Bid for Senate,” Mendell, Chicago Tribune, February 2004.
214 “You know . . . ,”: Axelrod discussion with author, February 2004.
215 Hull divorce files: public records from Cook County Circuit Court.
216 “Each day we . . . ,”: Chase discussion with author, March 2004.
217 “Barack was concerned . . . ,”: Axelrod interview with author, August 2005.
217 “I sure hope . . . ,”: Pete Giangreco discussion with author, March 2004.
217 “Some politicians . . . ,”: “The ‘IT’ Factor,” Chicago Sun-Times, January 2004.
218 “For god’s sakes . . . ,”: Obama aide discussion with author, January 2004.
CHAPTER 16: THE SMALL SCREEN
220 “There’s no doubt . . . ,”: David Mendell, “Obama Banks on Credentials, Charisma,” Chicago Tribune, January 2004.
220 “You have Christina . . . ,”: Matt Hynes discussion with author, January 2004.
221–222 Chicago Reader reference and Bob Secter quote: Michael Miner, “The Kiss and the Cover-up,” Chicago Reader, March 2004.
222 “Sounds like . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, February 2004.
223 “the favorite son . . . ,”: Obama at South Suburban Chicago campaign office, January 2004.
223 “I knew Dan Hynes . . . ,”: Illinois politico discussion with author, August 2005.
224 “They’re running . . . ,”: Anita Dunn discussion with author, February 2004.
224 “You know, Chico . . . ,”: Cauley discussion with author, February 2004.
225 “My father was . . . ,”: Obama in various campaign speeches, 2003–2004.
226 “It’s getting harder and harder . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, February 2004.
226 “My general attitude . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2004.
226 “musicians riffing . . . ,”: Axelrod interview with author, December 2006.
227 “I am my . . . ,” and “The arc of . . . ,”: Obama in various campaign speeches, 2003–2004.
227 “I’m going to be . . . ,”: Paul Simon discussion with author, December 2003.
228–231 Campaign ads courtesy of David Axelrod.
230 “Barack is extremely intelligent . . . ,”: Axelrod interview with author, March 2004.
231 “man for this time . . . ,”: editorial, Chicago Sun-Times, February 2004.
231 “proven record of . . . ,”: editorial, Chicago Tribune, February 2004.
231 “Obama is on fire”: Jason Erkes discussion with author, March 2004.
231 “We can’t get beat . . . ,”: Secter discussion with author, February 2004.
233–234 “Mr. Obaaaaama . . . ,” and “Can you believe . . . ,”: unidentified women, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, downtown Chicago, March 2004.
234 “You just wait . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, March 2004.
CHAPTER 17: A VICTORY LAP
235 Campaign ads courtesy of Hynes campaign.
236 “There was nowhere . . . ,”: Blumenthal interview with author, January 2007.
236 “Let’s face it . . . ,”: Erkes discussion with author, March 2004.
237 “He stayed . . . ,”: Dan Hynes, Senate debate, February 2004.
238 Tribune story reference: Mendell/Chase, “Candidate Without Faults Is a Rarity,” Chicago Tribune, March 2004.
239 “Hey, this story . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, March 2004.
240 “He did . . . ,”: Axelrod discussion with author, March 2004.
240 “We have all . . . ,”: Cauley discussion with author, March 2004.
241 “I don’t want this . . . ,”: Obama discussion in campaign SUV, March 2004.
241 “It was a straight arrow . . . ,”: Blumenthal interview with author, January 2007.
242 “Ambition has . . . ,”: Shomon discussion with author, June 2005.
243 “Well, you are . . . ,”: Jarrett conversation recounted to author, May 2005.
243 “He’s really pretty excited . . . ,”: Michelle Obama quoted in Eric Zorn column, Chicago Tribune, March 2004.
243 “The most surprising . . . ,”: Axelrod interview with author, June 2005.
245 “Truthfully, it feels . . . ,”: Leslie Corbett, quoted in “Obama Enters New Ring,” Chicago Tribune, Mendell/Jon Yates, March 2004.
245 “When I first . . . ,”: Deborah Landis interview with author, March 2004.
245 “Tonight surely . . . ,”: Jesse Jackson Sr., at Obama victory party, Chicago, March 2004.
246 “At its best . . . ,”: Obama victory speech, Chicago, March 2004.
CHAPTER 18: A DASH TO THE CENTER
248 “Barack was . . . ,”: Cauley discussion with author, April 2004.
249 “markets fail . . . ,”: Obama at various press interviews, April–November 2004.
249 “Obama figures out . . . ,”: David Wilhelm interview with author, January 2005.
249 “all I have to say . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, March 2004.
250 “I don’t think . . . ,”: Obama, and Tribune story reference, “Obama Has Center in Sights,” Chicago Tribune, Mendell, April 2004.
251 “I didn’t find . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, April 2004.
251 “It’s impossible . . . ,”: Obama aide interview with author, January 2005.
252 “Robert stepped . . . ,”: Jarrett interview with author, May 2005.
245 “This is someone . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, April 2005.
254 “Robert is . . . ,”: former Obama aide discussion with author, October 2006.
255 “Plain and simple . . . ,”: Cauley interview with author, December 2004.
255 Obama-Gibbs conversation: Gibbs recounted to author, November 2006.
256 “I told Barack . . . ,”: Gibbs interview with author, July 2005.
256 “You know, it would . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, March 2004.
257 “Absolutely . . . ,”: Jarrett interview with author, May 2005.
257 “Nice having you . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, March 2004.
258 “He was fine . . . ,”: Peter Coffey interview with author, January 2005.
259 “You really didn’t . . . ,”: Shomon interview with author, January 2005.
259 “He knows . . . ,”: Jarrett interview with author, May 2005.
CHAPTER 19: THE RYAN FILES
261 “left of Mao Tse-tung . . . ,”: Steve Rauschenberger, quoted in various media, March 2004.
261 “soft on crime . . . ,”: Kirk Dillard interview with author, September 2004.
262 “Meet my stalker . . . ,”: Obama speaking to various media, April 2004.
263 Ryan divorce files: various media reports, June 2004.
264 “I’ve tried to make . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, June 2004.
264 “I wanna . . . ,”: Obama conversation with aides, June 2004.
265 “I don’t think . . . ,”: Gibbs discussion with author, June 2004. 265 “I don’t take any pleasure . . . ,”: Obama at a press conference in Peoria, June 2004.
265 “Do you think . . . ,”: Radio reporter in questioning Obama, Peoria, June 2004.
266 “all of us . . . ,”: Obama speaking to reporters, Chicago, June 2004.
267 “He’s tired . . . ,”: Gibbs discussion with author, June 2004.
268 “There’s no other . . . ,”: Rahul Sangwan, “Jack Ryan a Conservative Idealist,” The Dartmouth Independent, October 4, 2004.
269 “Barack just killed . . . ,”: Nate Tamarin interview with author, December 2004.
269 “We wanted . . . ,”: Cauley discussion with author, January 2007.
271 “This was not laborious . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, August 2005.
CHAPTER 20: THE SPEECH
273–285 Obama’s convention day material: David Mendell, adapted from “Obama Finding Himself Flush with Media Attention,” Chicago Tribune, July 28, 2004.
274 Tim Russert interview: Meet the Press, NBC News, July 2004.
275 Oomph quote: Ryan Lizza, “The Natural,” Atlantic Monthly, July 2004.
275 “Chicagoans have grown . . . ,”: Joe Frolik, “A Newcomer to the Business of Politics Has Seen Enough to Reach Some Conclusions about Restoring Voters’ Trust,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 1996.
277 More oomph: Scott Fornek, “Is Oomph an Oops for Obama?” Chicago Sun-Times, July 2004.
277 “Is that good . . . ,”: Obama conversation with author, Boston, July 2004.
277 “You’re the . . . ,”: Bob Schieffer conversation with Obama, Boston, July 2004.
278 “Talk to . . . ,”: Obama conversation with Schieffer, Boston, July 2004.
278 “We brought her . . . ,”: Obama at press conference, Boston, July 2004.
279 “When am I . . . ,”: Dick Kay conversation with Green, Boston, July 2004.
279 “I can’t . . . ,”: Obama speech to League of Conservation Voters, Boston, July 2004.
280 “Even that last try . . . ,”: Practice speech observer conversation with author, July 2006.
281–284 various DNC speech quotes: Obama, Boston, July 2004.
283 “Of all . . . ,”: Axelrod interview with author, December 2004.
284 “I’m gonna . . . ,”: Obama, as told to author by Katz, June 2005.
285 “This is a . . . ,”: Jeff Greenfield, as recounted by Axelrod and Gibbs, December 2004.
285 “When I looked . . . ,”: Green conversation with author, March 2005.
285 “I was shivering . . . ,”: Chris Matthews, Hardball, July 28, 2004.
285 “electrified . . . ,”: Wolf Blitzer, CNN coverage, July 28, 2004.
285 “I guess . . . ,”: Obama, as recounted by Green to author, March 2005.
CHAPTER 21: BACK TO ILLINOIS
286 “I don’t want . . . ,”: Cauley, Obama quote recounted to author, August 2004.
287 “This was supposed . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, August 2004.
287 David Mendell, material adapted from “Heady Week Yields to Hard Work,” Chicago Tribune, August 2004.
287 “I don’t intend . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, August 2004.
288 “In just a few . . . ,”: Axelrod interview with author, October 2004.
288 “Apparently . . . ,”: Obama to audience in Kewanee, Illinois, August 2004.
288 “This is all . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, August 2004.
289 “I vote for . . . ,”: David Bramson interview with author, August 2004.
289 “I’ve learned . . . ,”: Obama discussion with author, August 2004.
290 “I can’t go . . . ,”: Dick Durbin conversation with Obama, August 2004.
291 “Those little small . . . ,”: Obama to audience in Quincy, Illinois, August 2004.
291 “We’ve lost . . . ,”: Mike Daly conversation with campaign aides, August 2004.
292 “When are we . . . ,”: Obama conversation with Michelle Obama, August 2004.
292 “What’s in . . . ,”: Michelle Obama conversation with Obama, August 2004.
292 “We’ve finally kind of . . . ,”: campaign aide conversation with author, August 2004.
293 “This is not . . . ,”: Michelle Obama interview with author, August 2004.
293 “They’re both . . . ,”: campaign aide conversation with author, August 2004.
293 “This is what . . . ,”: Michelle Obama conversation with author, August 2004.
294 “It’s embarrassing . . . ,”: Obama conversation with author, August 2004.
294–295 Smoking anecdote: Tommy Vietor conversation with author, August 2004.
296 “knock the halo . . . ,”: Obama, The Audacity of Hope.
296–298 Bud Billiken parade material: David Mendell, adapted from “Billiken Crowd Jeers Keyes, Cheers Obama,” Chicago Tribune, August 2004.
297 “At one point . . . ,”: Mike Signator conversation with author, August 2004.
298 “Barack Obama has . . . ,”: Liam Ford/David Mendell, “Jesus Wouldn’t Vote for Obama, Keyes Says,” Chicago Tribune, September 2004.
298 “Barack thinks . . . ,”: Cauley conversation with author, September 2004.
298 “You know, Barack . . . ,”: Axelrod, recounted by Obama in conversation with author, September 2004.
298 “What could I . . . ,”: Obama, The Audacity of Hope.
299 “We can’t lose . . . ,”: Axelrod conversation with author, November 2004.
300 “He hates . . . ,”: Vietor conversation with author, November 2004.
300 “It was a thing . . . ,”: Chicago political consultant conversation with author, June 2005.
301 “I can’t believe . . . ,”: Obama, recounted to author by campaign aide, August 2004.
301 “He is the smartest . . . ,”: Amanda Fuchs conversation with author, November 2004.
302 “I am not looking . . . ,”: Obama, recounted by Cauley during interview with author, December 2004.
CHAPTER 22: THE SENATOR
303 “Congratulations” anecdote: conversation between the Obamas, January 2005.
304 “I’m not a . . . ,”: Obama conversation with Jesse Jackson Sr., January 2005.
304 “We are bound . . . ,”: Obama to supporters in Washington, D.C., January 2005.
306 “If Mike Tackett . . . ,”: Gibbs conversation with author, February and March 2005.
307 “house in order . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2005.
308 “I’m writing . . . ,”: Obama conversation with author, April 2005.
308 “Does he . . . ,”: Rahm Emanuel discussion with author, May 2005.
308 “Barack . . . is tightly . . . ,”: Shomon conversation with author, April 2006.
310 “There are probably . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2006.
311 “We have enough . . . ,” and “If you want to position . . . ,”: Chris Lu interview with author, December 2006.
312 “My reticence . . . ,”: Tom Stoppard quoted in Daphne Merkin, “Playing with Ideas,” New York Times Magazine, November 2006.
313 “It was an important . . . ,”: Gibbs interview with author, May 2007.
314–315 Knox College speech quotes: Obama to audience at college, June 2005.
315 “It’s hard for him . . . ,”: Jon Favreau interview with author, December 2006.
317 Katrina quotes: Obama on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, ABC News, September 2005.
318 “From slave ships”: Cornel West quoted in “World: Exiles from a City,” The Observer, September 2005.
318 “hull of a slave . . . ,” and other Jackson quotes: editorial “Katrina’s Racial Storm,” Chicago Tribune, September 2005.
318–319 “Every speaker . . . ,” and other Jackson quotes: interview with author, June 2006.
320 “I think there is . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2005.
CHAPTER 23: SOUTH AFRICA
324 “humanly possible . . . ,” and “Kenya will just be . . . ,”: Gibbs discussion with author, March 2005.
325 “I can’t hang . . . ,”: Obama conversation with official, August 2006.
326 “But the lawyers . . . ,”: Axelrod interview with author, December 2006.
329 “It’s not an issue . . . ,”: Obama at a press conference, South Africa, August 2006.
330 “It sends this message . . . ,”: Zackie Achmat interview with reporters, August 2006.
330 “You’re going . . . ,”: Desmond Tutu to Obama at a press conference, August 2006.
330 “Well, he stayed . . . ,”: Gibbs conversation with author, August 2006.
331 “It was very . . . ,”: David Wheeler interview with author, August 2006.
332 “He’s a total . . . ,”: filmmaker conversation with author, August 2006.
333 “It would look . . . ,”: U.S. embassy official to reporters, August 2006.
335 “You hear a lot . . . ,” and further quotes: Obama at a press conference, August 2006.
336 “That was . . . ,”: Pete Souza conversation with author, August 2006.
337 “If it wasn’t for . . . ,”: Obama statement outside Hector Pieterson Museum, August 2006.
337 “You know . . . ,”: Obama conversation with entourage member, August 2006.
CHAPTER 24: NAIROBI
341 “take care of . . . ,”: Gibbs conversation with author, Nairobi, August 2006.
341 “You’ll be . . . ,”: Obama to reporters, August 2006.
342 “How’s it . . . ,”: Mike Flannery conversation with Gibbs, August 2006.
343 “Oh . . . I’m like . . . ,”: Gibbs conversation with Flannery, August 2006.
343 “I’m not sure . . . ,”: Gibbs press briefing, August 2006.
343–344 Embassy scene and quotes from press pool report by Laurie Abraham.
344 “Chris Wills . . . ,”: Obama to Wills, August 2006.
345 “People have just . . . ,”: Dennis Onyango interview with author, August 2006.
346 “This is where . . . ,”: Catherine Oganda interview with author, August 2006.
346 “If the Americans . . . ,”: John Nyambalo interview with author, August 2006.
347 “May the innocent victims . . . ,”: Obama speech at embassy site, August 2006.
348 “Oh my goodness . . . ,”: Michelle Obama conversation with author, August 2006.
349 “Be careful . . . ,”: Jennifer Barnes conversation with author, August 2006.
350 “This is intense . . . ,”: Bob Hercules conversation with author, August 2006.
351 “He is my . . . ,”: Gregory Ochieng interview with author, August 2006.
351 “Part of my role . . . ,” and subsequent Obama quotes: Obama at a press conference, August 2006.
353 “Where is . . . ,”: Obama to reporters, August 2006.
353 “When he is not . . . ,”: Abraham, “Mr. Obama Goes to Washington (and Cape Town and Nairobi and . . .),” Elle magazine, December 2006.
353 “I feel demeaned . . . ,”: filmmaker conversation with author, August 2006.
354 “Kenya is not my . . . ,”: Obama at a press conference, August 2006.
CHAPTER 25: SIAYA: A FATHER’S HOME
356 “Obviously . . . ,”: Obama to reporters, August 2006.
357 “This is a prelude . . . ,”: filmmaker talking under his breath, August 2006.
359 “Stop pushing . . . ,”: Obama to a crowd at a hospital, August 2006.
361 “I haven’t digested . . . ,”: Michelle Obama discussion with reporters, August 2006.
363 “Hopefully, I can . . . ,”: Obama in a school dedication ceremony, August 2006.
363 “Does this meet . . . ,”: Gibbs conversation with Bill Lambrecht of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 2006.
364 “As I was driving . . . ,”: Obama speech to Siaya political gathering, August 2006.
365 “It’s like . . . ,”: Gibbs conversation with author, August 2006.
367 “This is . . . ,”: Souza under his breath, August 2006.
367 “Don’t trust . . . ,”: Obama to reporters outside grandmother’s house, August 2006.
367 “It’s a . . . ,”: military liaison conversation with author, August 2006.
369 “Hello . . . ,”: Obama to a crowd in Kibera, August 2006.
370 “Let’s walk . . . ,”: Gibbs to reporters, August 2006.
371 “Here in Kenya . . . ,”: Obama in a speech at University of Nairobi, August 2006.
371 “There are people . . . ,”: Onyango interview with author, August 2006.
372 “Barack figured . . . ,”: Auma Obama interview with author, August 2006.
373 “It was a little . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2006.
373 “Barack and I . . . ,”: Michelle Obama interview with author, December 2006.
374 “My father . . . ,”: Auma Obama interview with author, August 2006.
CHAPTER 26: LEBRON REVISITED
375 “How bad . . . ,”: Tamarin conversation with author, October 2006.
375 “We definitely . . . ,”: Gibbs interview with author, May 2007.
376 “The Democrats should . . . ,”: Maureen Dowd, “What’s Better? His Empty Suit or Her Baggage?” New York Times, March 2006.
376 “My attitude is . . . ,”: Jacob Weisberg, “Barack Obama: The Path to Power,” Men’s Vogue, September 2006.
376 “I inhaled . . . ,”: Obama on NBC’s Tonight Show, December 2006.
376 “People have always . . . ,”: Shomon conversation with author, June 2006.
377 “There are . . . ,”: Axelrod interview with author, December 2006.
377 “I saw John Kennedy . . . ,”: Newton Minow recounted in interview with author, January 2007.
377–378 Iowa material adapted from “Looking Beyond Obama-mania”: David Mendell, “Is He Ready Yet?” Chicago Tribune, September 2006.
378 “Oh Oh Oh Obama . . . ,”: David Yepsen, “What Triggers the Buzz Around Obama? It’s Hope,” Des Moines Register, September 2006.
379 “committee of scribes . . . ,”: Obama, The Audacity of Hope.
379 “There was more . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2006.
379 “He’s not really . . . ,”: Penny Reynolds interview with author, December 2006.
380 “The combination . . . ,”: Gibbs interview with author, May 2007.
380 “If Barack . . . ,”: Butts interview with author, December 2006.
381 “You keep . . . ,” and subsequent quotes: Michelle Obama interview with author, December 2006.
382 “I think . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2006.
383 Tony Rezko material: David Jackson/Ray Gibson, “Rezko Owns Vacant Lot Next to Obama’s Home,” Chicago Tribune, November 2006.
384 “Look, I came . . . ,”: Obama interview with author, December 2006.
385 “He is in fantastic . . . ,”: Pete Giangreco interview with author, January 2007.
385 “Freak Show . . . ,”: Mark Halperin/John F. Harris, The Way to Win (New York: Random House, 2006).
385 “I don’t know . . . ,”: Axelrod interview with author, December 2006.