Barack Obama 2008 presidential primary campaign in Indiana on May 6, he took the lead in committed superdelegates. The results in those two states made Obama the clear front-runner for the nomination, and he picked up endorsements from 26 superdelegates in the week after those primaries. On August 27 Barack Obama was awarded the Democratic presidential nomination by acclamation at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Various criticisms were made during the campaign concerning Obama's religious background and heritage, both by political opponents and by some members of the media. In 2004, conservative columnist Andy Martin issued a press release alleging that Obama had
African-American candidates for President of the United States Senator Obama was identified as a potential candidate for president of the U.S. after his speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. The distinct possibility of an African American becoming elected was realized as the Democratic primary elections got under way in early 2008. Barack Obama emerged as a serious contender for the nomination and was the first African American to win the nomination of a major party in a United States presidential election. As the Democratic Party's nominee he went on to win the general election on November 4, 2008. On January 20, 2009 he was sworn in as