Sen. Barack Obama's Book Club

In N.H., Obama heightens 2008 prospects

Sen. Obama picks up supporters in the Granite State.

By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer

1 hour,  57 minutes ago

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - Illinois Sen. Barack Obama drew large crowds curious about his presidential prospects during his first trip to the pivotal campaign state of New Hampshire while he decides whether to enter the Democratic race.

Several hundred New Hampshire voters turned out to hear Obama speak at a signing for his best-selling book, "Audacity of Hope," where he didn't mention the presidential race but spoke about a new political spirit to unite Americans and solve their problems.

New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary is over a year away and Obama hasn't even said whether or not he will join the Democratic field vying for the nomination. But he's already igniting excitement with his exploratory trip.

Obama and Evangelical Megachurch in Sync on AIDS

POSTED: 11:03 p.m. EST, December 1, 2006

LAKE FOREST, California (AP) -- Potential presidential candidate Barack Obama stood before one of the country's largest evangelical churches Friday and declared that condoms should be made more widely available to fight AIDS.

The Democratic senator's appearance at Saddleback megachurch was a source of dispute among evangelical leaders, with some of the most conservative saying that a politician who supports abortion rights should not have been allowed to speak at such a prominent church.

Obama urged unity despite political differences to fight the disease that has killed 25 million people since the first case was reported in 1981. About 40 million currently are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.(Watch the impact of AIDS in America )