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Candid Candidate
Barack Obama (D)
Occupation: U.S. senator from Illinois
Birth Date: Aug. 4, 1961
Spouse: Michelle Robinson Obama
Children: Malia Ann, Sasha
WebMD asked all the presidential candidates eight questions about how health affects them, from guilty pleasures to defining moments. While Barack Obama has not yet responded to those questions, here are some health issues he or his family has faced.
Feeling pressure from his wife, Obama resolved to quit smoking during the winter 2006 holidays. He told the Chicago Tribune that he had been "chewing Nicorette strenuously" in an effort to kick the habit.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Find out where Barack Obama stands on the key health issues.
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Obama revealed in his 1995 memoir Dreams From My Father that he tried cocaine and smoked marijuana as a teenager.
He enjoys playing basketball.
His mother Ann Dunham died of ovarian cancer at age 53.
Obama's wife, Michelle, was, until recently, the vice president of community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
The content contained in WebMD's "Health Matters in the 2008 Election" section is for informational purposes only. WebMD does not endorse any specific political party, candidate, committee, idea or belief.
The Candidates
Read the candidates' health platforms plus find out how health affects them personally.
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