A close examination of Obama's first campaign clouds his image..

I missed reading this when it was published back in April of 2007, Obama knows his way around a ballot. It's a different view of Barack Obama than is being presented to voters...Some selected parts of the recommended article:

A close examination of Obama's first campaign clouds the image he has cultivated throughout his political career: The man now running for president on a message of giving a voice to the voiceless first entered public office not by leveling the playing field, but by clearing it.

"He talks about honor and democracy, but what honor is there in getting rid of every other candidate so you can run scot-free? Why not let the people decide?"

Obama not only refused to step aside, he filed challenges that nullified Palmer's hastily gathered nominating petitions, forcing her to withdraw.

"I liked Alice Palmer a lot. I thought she was a good public servant," Obama said. "It was very awkward. That part of it I wish had played out entirely differently."

But Obama didn't gloat over the victories. "I don't think he thought it was, you know, sporting," said Will Burns, a 1996 Obama campaign volunteer who assisted with the petition challenges. "He wasn't very proud of it."

Obama said Palmer gave him her formal endorsement. "I'm absolutely certain she … publicly spoke and sort of designated me," he recalled.

Palmer disputes that. "I don't know that I like the word 'endorsement,' " she said. "An endorsement to me, having been in legislative politics … that's a very formal kind of thing. I don't think that describes this. An 'informal nod' is how to characterize it."

Palmer to this day does not concede the flaws that Obama's team found in her signatures. She maintains that she could have overcome the Obama team's objections and stayed on the ballot if she had more time and resources.

For those of you wondering, Obama has not spoken to Palmer since 1996...Which is interesting considering he is running on the ability to be able to unite people yet it's fairly clear when it comes to his wanting to win an election, he'll do what ever is necessary whether it divides a community or not.

Maybe those who said there was really no major difference between Hillary and Barack are more right than I thought. It could come down to who was the least dishonest...