![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtY0cjqjfOiu7H5O_RqupqxzenEt_OeoUoW7cuWRFuiiGzLB3VOb2gladOnTlNhY9gsObARBsvB2sH_PQ-_mbXiJ0IRCZmWXlRynk6fdVUS7914YBjjfsVGGRYUKlQ5uItuwXQN68gk7Rk/s320/t1wide.obama.stpaul.afp.jpg)
In less than a year, Barack Obama has gone from being an obscure, first-term U.S. senator to the projected Democratic presidential nominee. On Tuesday, Obama became the first African-American to head the ticket of a major political party, beating out Sen. Hillary Clinton, who aspired to become the first female nominee.