Politics

Video vault: In 2000, Bobby Rush schooled Barack Obama [VIDEO]

Meg Gasvoda Contributor
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President Barack Obama lost his first race for Congress in 2000, when the incumbent Rep. Bobby Rush turned back his primary grab for the Democratic nomination in Illinois’ First Congressional District.

In that March 2000 primary election, fully 61 percent of the vote went to Bobby Rush, a former Black Panther with strong ties to Chicago’s African-American communities.

Obama appeared polished and restrained in the televised debate. While his radio ads during that primary season included some pitches to African-American voters, his messages during his debate with Rush were aimed at a broader audience, and sought to avoid antagonizing his opponent’s supporters.

Rush calmly championed his own record, though, and said Obama had accomplished little in the state legislature. That criticism stuck: Obama later allied with leaders in the state Senate to get his name attached to a series of high-profile laws. Those credits later helped Obama win the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 2004.

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