Elected to U.S. Senate

Obama received 70% of the popular vote to Keyes's 27%

He is the only Black person in the U.S. Senate and the first Black male senator from Illinois. He also would be only the fifth Black U.S. senator ever in the nation.

He has won the endorsement of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rep. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) and Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones. Famed jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis has performed at a fund-raiser for him.

He also has won the support of the largest teamsters local in Illinois, Local 705 Chicago, representing more than 21,000 members. Local 705 is the second-largest teamsters local in the country. He has won four key Latino endorsements because his campaign unites Blacks, Latinos and progressive voters through a common agenda that supports families.

Obama replaced the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Peter Fitzgerald.


Voting record available at: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/o000167/

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