Barack obama defeated Hillary Clinton in the democratic primaries to run for president in 2008.
On February 10, 2007, Barack Obama, who was then-junior United States Senator from Illinois, announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States in Springfield, Illinois. Obama announced his candidacy at the Old State Capitol building, where Abraham Lincoln had delivered his "House Divided" speech. Barack Obama was the main challenger, along with John Edwards, to front-runner Hillary Clinton for much of 2007. Obama claimed victory in the Iowa caucus in January 2008.
