Barack Obama, junior senator from Illinois, first captured Americas attention with his keynote address to the Democratic National Convention in 2004. Now, as presumptive Democratic candidate for President, Obamas superb and captivating oratory style has earned him comparisons to John F. Kennedy and even Martin Luther King and on the campaign trail Obama has achieved near rock-star status.Obama speaks on themes of race, identity, community, and above all, his hoped-for vision of a New America.