Reference no: EM132862690

Political analysis and the media have compared former Illinois State Senator and the sitting President of the United States Barrack Obama to historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Bill Clinton. In January 2005, the 43-year-old Obama, a Democrat, became the only African American in the U.S. Senate. The Democratic Party was at that time already debating Obama's prospects of becoming President, and whether or not he should run in 2012 or 2016. How did Obama, the self-proclaimed "skinny kid with a funny name" become one of the most popular political candidates in the Democratic Party in 2005? Ask people who've watched him and they might say he possesses certain personality traits, as well as a keen intellect, and that these have quickly propelled him to the upper political ranks of government. Obama's early years were a mix of struggles, but he seized opportunities as they arose. His mother was a white native of Kansas, his father a black immigrant from Kenya. Though his father has had a tremendous effect on Obama's astute cultural awareness, he left the family when Obama was two and rarely saw Obama throughout his childhood. His father later died in a car accident I Kenya when Obama was 21. After growing up in Honolulu, except during the ages of 6 to 10, when he and his mother lived in Indonesia, Obama attended Columbia University in New York. Four years after graduating from Columbia and working as a community organizer in Chicago, Obama attended Harvard Law School. There, he was chosen by famous attorney Laurence Tribe to be Tribe's research assistant. Tribe, who also taught constitutional law, said of Obama, "I've known senators, presidents and I've never known anyone with what seems to me more raw political talent. He just seems to have the surest way of calmly reaching across what are impenetrable barriers to many people." Obama continued on a path into politics. In 1990, as a result of his successes, he was elected president of the Harvard Law Review, the first African American to have accomplished such a feat. Following law school, Obama joined a small civil rights firm in Chicago. But working there was not enough for Obama - politics was where his true aspirations lie. He left the Chicago firm, and, in 1996, Obama ran for the Illinois state senate and won. On the fast track, Obama attempted to run for the U.S. Congress against Bobby Rush, a four-term former member of the activist group the Black Panthers. Obama lost, but his persistence led him to the 2004 senate election, in which he won by a large margin against prominent African American Republican, Alan Keyes. Obama's whirlwind ride to the U.S. Senate has left even him a bit surprised by his tremendous popularity. "What's going on?" "I'm not entirely sure," he said. "I think what people are most hungry for in politics right now is authenticity." Obama has a knack for rousing people's attention. Many say that he is extremely charismatic, and his speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention was an example of that quality. On July 27th, Obama took the podium and began speaking about his idea of a country without racism and fear, a country not led by politicians who are born into wealth. Speaking of his background, which exemplifies diversity in many ways, Obama stated, "In no other country on earth is my story even possible." Obama has been described by political analysts as very self-aware, as evidenced by his ability to tie his own experiences into an engaging political speech in which he portrayed himself as an ordinary citizen, speaking for the general public. Though it may be difficult to say exactly what separates Obama form other political figures, many say that he "just has that something." "So far, Obama's fame is continuing to grow," stated Congresswoman Gwen Moore during a rally in 2005 for Senator Russ Feingold. "This young man has set Illinois on fire and set America on fire. He's the future of the Democratic Party!" Former Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder concurred, "Obama could be president. There's nothing to stop him."

Adapted Questions

a) What traits might Barrack Obama possess that contribute to his strong leadership ability? Does Obama's case supports a trait perspective of leadership?

b) Based on Obama's leadership style, do you consider him an effective leader? Justify your answer.

c) Is Obama's popularity and success a result of "nature", "nurture" or both? Support your answer with examples from the case.