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 underway in early 2008 . Barack Obama emerged as a serious contender for the nomination and was the first African American to win the designation 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 the first African American president of the United States . He was re-elected to a second term as president on November 6 , 2012
2004 Democratic National Convention
2004 Democratic National Convention
African-American candidates for President of the United States