Name: Barack Obama

Age: 46

Occupation: U.S. Senator representing Illinois

Office sought: President of the United States

Party affiliation: Democratic

Family: Wife, Michelle; two daughters, Malia and Sasha

Elected offices and years held: U.S. Senator, 2005-present; Illinois state senate, 1996-2004

Other qualifications: Graduated Columbia University (1983), with major in political science; law degree from Harvard (1991), with J.D. major (magna cum laude); attended Occidental College.

Government committees: Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Foreign Relations Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee, 2005 and 2006; served on the Environment and Public Works Committee

Candidate’s Web site: barackobama.com

Economy: Barack Obama has pledged to create a tax cut for working families. The Making Work Pay tax would give 150 million workers with a credit of up to $500 per person or $1,000 per working family. It would eliminate income taxes for 10 million Americans.

He plans to amend the North American Free Trade Agreement to better serve Americans. He introduced the Patriot Employer Act of 2007 to provide a tax credit to companies that maintain or increase the number of full-time American workers relative to those outside the U.S., according to his campaign.

Obama also promises to raise the minimum wage, protect union workers and those on strike, improve transition assistance programs and invest in U.S. manufacturing.

Iraq:Obama on the issues

By BRANDI WATTERS