Barack Obama (An Independent in 2000)

While many never expected President Edwards to endorse then Junior Senator from Illinois Barack Obama, few could dispute what became more of a coronation than an campaign. Running a campaign on the slogan of "Progress for Tomorrow," since the Hope and Change argument had already been used by President Edwards, Senator Obama captured the imagination of the American Public and won in a strong victory over Republican Candidate Mike Huckabee, Democratic Candidate Joe Biden and Libertarian Candidate Ron Paul.

2008 Election
The 2008 election began when Treasury Secretary Ron Paul resigned from the office he had held since the start of the Edward Administration and entered the race on the Libertarian Ticket. The Independents, knowing that a Paul Administration would undue all that President Edwards had worked for, quickly rallied behind three potential candidates; Former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, Mayor Bloomberg, and Senator Barack Obama. Under the new online Primary system, the race rapidly narrowed to a battle between Mayor Bloomberg and Senator Obama. Obama came off much as he did in OTL: calm under pressure, charismatic, and intelligent. Bloomberg came off as somewhat more dynamic, but was constantly referred to as an elitist, and was tainted by elements of corruption. Senator Obama won the primary with 59% of the vote. Once the general election came around few expected the Senator to do much better than be recognized as the first African American Presidential candidate nominated by a major political entity. All of that changed when President Edwards announced his endorsement. The universal assumption was that the president would endorse Former Treasurer Ron Paul; but when the President announced his endorsement of Senator Obama, every prediction of the election went out the window.
 * "Once in a great while we find ourselves presented with that once in a lifetime opportunity that if missed will pass us by never to be heard from again and looked at with a feeling of longing and regret that will never leave our spirits. As a nation we have that opportunity in this election. In my eight years as your President I have seen politicians come and go, and the old Washington elite fight progress at every turn; but there is one man, who I have known since I was first elected Mayor of Seattle, who has always displayed that ideal sense of public service that is often so rare in those who seek Public Office. That is the man I will endorse to be the next President of the United States of America, that is the man who I know is the only person running who I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt will continue to lead this country towards a brighter tomorrow and understands the challenges, and the opportunities, of our time. That man is Senator Barack Hussein Obama!"

Outcome of Election

First 100 Days
President Obama's first act upon entering office was the introduction of the Second Bill of Rights into the House of Representatives for passage. The Amendments within the SBR will effectively solidify the socio-economic gains made by President Edwards into constitutional law. The passed in the House with large acceptance by the Independent Majority and the dwindling Democrats, but was chastised by the Libertarians, and the last few remaining Republicans. One famous cartoon criticizing the second bill of rights shows Obama putting the US Constitution through a shredder, with the founding fathers' ghosts leaving the machine. That causes a significant uproar among the independents and Edwards condemns the caricature, saying that it is immature and an outdated view. During President Obama's third day in office he signed an executive order that caps senior staff pay raises at 100,000 dollars. During his third week in office, President Obama successfully negotiated the passage of the American Economic Growth and Reinvestment Plan, which significantly expands the Civilization Acts to include funds towards developing nations that the US has an economic interest in, and puts a heavy tariff on all goods that come into the US as a result of foreign outsourcing.

Foreign Policy
President Obama has already appointed specialists to the Middle East and North Korea to discuss negotiations without pre-conditions. He has continued to support India, and has continued the draw down of troops across the world to continue the development of the UN Multinational Force with the signing of an executive order that closes an additional 30 US bases around the world.

Currently the President is actively working with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to negotiate a lasting peace in the region. He has stated that he believes that President Edwards may have been a little hasty with is stop of all US military aide to Israel, but cannot deny that it has leveled the playing field for negotiations more than ever before. Currently leaders of Palestine, Israel, and even Hamas are set to meet with Secretary of State Biden in Jerusalem to begin talks about a sovereign Palestinian state, and a conclusive cease fire between the two nations.