December 11, 2008 - In selecting Tom Daschle to be his health and human services secretary, President-elect Barack Obama said Thursday that he wanted Mr. Daschle, a former South Dakota senator, to pursue something that had eluded federal officials for decades: securing affordable, accessible health care for every single American. Whether Mr. Daschle, a former Senate majority leader, can succeed where others failed is unclear. Year after year, Mr. Obama said, "our leaders offer up detailed health care plans with great fanfare and promise, only to see them fail, derailed by Washington politics and influence peddling." Even Mr. Daschle, who will also be director of a new White House Office of Health Reform, acknowledges that the task will be difficult. In a recent book, he portrays the health care industry as a collection of special interests and predicts they will wage all-out war to defeat reform. Mr. Obama said Mr. Daschle, as head of the new office, would be the lead architect of proposals to expand coverage and rein in health costs.
November 4, 2008 - Election night: Barack Obama victory speech from Grant Park, Chicago. 16:46 long. in: Hello Chicago! oc: And my God bless the United State of America (sfx fades)
August 28, 2008 - Barack Obama acceptance speech at the Democratic Naional Convention (DNC) in Denver
August 27, 2008 - Democratic National Convention: Day 3: Barack Obama end of evening comments
August 25, 2008 - Barack Obama chats with family at Democratic National Convention (quips about "persistent president")
August 24, 2008 - Obama speaks in Eau Claire, WI. Note: He says "hell" and then aplogizes for it about six or so minutes in. "If we can spend $10 to $12 billion a month in Iraq, we sure as HELL can pay $10 to $12 million -- billion dollars right here in the United States." Obama was speaking about the need to invest money domestically -- on things like long-term energy solutions -- and looked a little flustered after the word "hell" came out of his mouth. The Illinois senator quickly corrected his word slip in front of the town hall of 300 in Eau Claire, Wis. "I apologize, by the way, I usually say 'heck,' especially after church. That sort of slipped out," Obama said shortly after his morning visit to First Lutheran Church in Eau Claire.
August 23, 2008 - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama announces vice-presidential running mate Joe Biden. Text message of announcement went out at 3am this morning.
August 20, 2008 - This event marked the unofficial opening of the general election and served as a prequel to the fall debates as the two candidates discussed, although not simultaneously, a range of faith-related, character, leadership and humanitarian issues. Rick Warren first interviewed Barack Obama for an hour (with commercial breaks). Afterward, John McCain came on stage. For a brief moment, the two candidates greeted one another, shaking hands. Obama then left while McCain began his own hour with Warren.
July 24, 2008 -
July 3, 2008 - Barack Obama campaign speech at veterans event in Fargo, North Dakota. This has introductory remarks by Bill Anderson.