Obama's rise to the Senate was based on his speechifying, not his legislating, although that's not what we're led to believe by the incredible number of bills he claims to have advanced. The truth (as acknowledged by the head of the Illinois Senate) is that Obama approached him and said (paraphrasing) "how'd you like to create the next US Senator from Illinois? All you have to do is give me credit for all the important bills that get passed and I'll do the rest".

It's a little like a student approaching his principal, saying "if you give me A's, I'll be the valedictorian. Then I can get on the school board and....

What a fraud!

Please read the Rise of Obama or Three Times a Charm by oldeschool. Slate -> The Fray -> Readme

Fact is, while speechifying is what he does best...it isn't the only reason he was able to win in Illinois.