Barack Obama seemed to burst onto the national political scene in early 2007 when he announced his candidacy for president of the United States. In reality, his lengthy resume included work as a community organizer, civil rights attorney, state senator, and U.S. senator. His political accomplishments showed Obama as a candidate who could get things done by working with Republican and Democratic legislators alike on such issues as education, crime reform, and campaign reform. Obama's historic campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination drew both strong support and strong opposition from members of both major political parties. A skilled orator, his speeches attempted to transcend race as he focused not on how people were different, but how they were alike. A grassroots campaign grew, spreading the message that Obama was the candidate who would bring "change we can believe in." He was nominated for the Democratic ticket over Hillary Rodham Clinton, and then on November 4, 2008, Barack Obama made history when he was elected America's first African American president.