A look at a few of the items that mark Barack Obama's rise
Few things illustrate Barack Obama's rise in political power more than his choice of vehicles and residences.
Obama residences
State lawmaker: East View Park apartment, Chicago
U.S. Senator: $1.65 million mansion in Chicago's Kenwood neighborhood
President of the United States: White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave
Among Obama's rides
State lawmaker: 1996 Escort LX 4-door
2000 Dodge Neon 4-door
2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
U.S. Senate: GMC Yukon
President of the United States: Cadillac DTS/GMC truck "Beast" limo
Air Force One
Barack-abelia
There was a time when you could wander into a Springfield Goodwill or Salvation Army and pick up an Obama state campaign T-shirt like this one for a dollar or two. Now collectors run ads looking for his old campaign merchandise.
A few people might even still possess one of these
But now state officials have realized they're in the midst of history being made. They've begun rounding up all sorts of Obama swag to store away, potentially for display at an Obama presidential library.
Among the potential artifacts - The handmade pen he used to sign his August speech announcing Joe Biden as his running mate in Springfield and the podium used for the event.
Obama didn't buy his seat
Illinois Senate officials stored away the red leather chair Obama used during his tenure in Springfield. When the Senate was remodeled a few years ago, lawmakers were given the chance to buy their seats, legally. Obama declined.
The chair has been stashed away in storage - somewhere. The Daily Herald inquired about its whereabouts for a picture and was assured it was in safe storage but could not be produced immediately.
Dude, where's my desk?
Obama's Illinois Senate desk no longer exists because he didn't really have one. Before the remodeling, the senators had long rows of desks, essentially a countertop with dividers. They all went out and were replaced with roll-top desks.
Button, button, who's got the button
However, the red, green and yellow voting buttons used by Obama in the Senate are still being used. As we all learned during the campaign, Obama voted "present" - the appropriately colored yellow button - nearly 130 times in the Illinois Senate, a move used to sidestep being on the official record as voting "no" but still carrying the same effect.
If the buttons stayed in essentially the same location in the Senate chamber during the remodeling, our best estimate is that Carlinville Democrat Deanna Demuzio now pushes Obama's buttons.
Obama sat here?
If you ever find yourself sitting at Floyd's Thirst Parlor's bar in downtown Springfield, you might be resting on the same stool used by Obama or Joe Biden during the vice presidential announcement last summer outside the Old State Capitol. The exact stools used are not known, so belly up to the bar and take your chances - you might be sitting on history.
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