Photos of Young Barack Obama Before He Was President
21 Photos of Barack Obama Before He Was President That You've Probably Never Seen
Image Source: Getty
It's pretty astonishing that Barack Obama was elected president with just three years of experience as a junior senator from Illinois (though he did serve on the Illinois state legislature). But if you look at pictures of Obama before he was elected, his charismatic presence is undeniable. Moments from the campaign trail in 2007 are particularly intimate and revealing.
As we reflect on Obama's legacy and prepare for his exit, we looked back at his trajectory to the White House. While you might be used to Obama's face after eight years, we're guessing you haven't seen these 21 photos of Obama before he took office.
1 Speaking at a job training center with John Kerry during his Senate campaign in 2004
Image Source: Getty / Scott Olson
2 Hanging out with Willie Nelson while attending the singer's music festival, Farm Aid, in 2005
Image Source: Getty / Rick Diamond
3 Snapping a picture at a White Sox game as a newly elected senator in 2005
Image Source: Getty / Stephen Dunn
4 Addressing press about the civil war in Sudan with George Clooney in 2006
Image Source: Getty / Win McNamee
5 Whispering to Bono at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2006
Image Source: Getty / Pool
6 Visiting New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2006
Image Source: Getty / Mario Tama
7 Embracing his grandmother during a visit to Kenya as senator in 2006
Image Source: Getty / SIMON MAINA
8 Planting a tree with his family and Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai while visiting Kenya in 2006
Image Source: Getty / SIMON MAINA
9 Rallying a crowd at Kenya's largest slum while visiting the country in 2006
Image Source: Getty / TONY KARUMBA
10 Endorsing Proposition 87, an alternative energy incentive, with Ben Affleck as senator in 2006
Image Source: Getty / Chad Buchanan
11 Appearing divine at a Democratic midterm election celebration in 2006
Image Source: Getty / STAN HONDA
12 Visiting Nelson Mandela's South African jail cell in 2006
Image Source: Getty / RODGER BOSCH
13 Chatting on his flip phone at the White Sox championship victory visit to the White House in 2006
Image Source: Getty / Mark Wilson
14 Grinning at an Illinois church service in 2007
Image Source: Getty / JEFF HAYNES
15 Struggling to stay awake at a Senate Homeland Security Committee meeting in 2007
Image Source: Getty / PAUL J. RICHARDS
16 Cheesing at a press conference during a Senate Democratic push to clean up lobbying in 2007
Image Source: Getty / Joe Raedle
17 Doing his best cowboy impression while at an Austin rally during his presidential campaign in 2007
Image Source: Getty / Ben Sklar
18 Enjoying an Iowa State Fair ride during his presidential campaign in 2007
Image Source: Getty / Scott Olson
19 Sipping a cup of coffee during a campaign stop in Iowa in 2007
Image Source: Getty / Eric Thayer
20 Playing Uno with Sasha on the campaign trail in 2007
Image Source: Getty / Charles Ommanney
21 Buying Dunkin' Donuts for New Hampshire campaign volunteers in 2008
Image Source: Getty / Chip Somodevilla
