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Obama says he has no Illinois records
By Mike Baker and Christopher Wills
Associated Press
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RALEIGH, N.C. -- Barack Obama, who's been scolding Hillary Rodham Clinton for not hastening the release of records from her time as first lady, says he can't step up and produce his own records from his days in the Illinois state Senate. He says he hasn't got any.

"I don't have - I don't maintain - a file of eight years of work in the state Senate because I didn't have the resources available to maintain those kinds of records," he said at a recent campaign stop in Iowa. He said he wasn't sure where any cache of records might have gone, adding, "It could have been thrown out. I haven't been in the state Senate now for quite some time."

Obama's statement that he has no papers from his time in the Illinois statehouse - he left in 2004 - stands in stark contrast to the massive Clinton file stored at the National Archives: an estimated 78 million pages of documents, plus 20 million e-mail messages, packed into 36,000 boxes. While any file from Obama's time in the state Senate would be far smaller, the idea that no papers exist at all is questioned by one historian.

"Most of those guys do keep this stuff, especially the favorable stuff. They've all got egos," said Taylor Pensoneau, a historian who has written about Illinois legislators and governors and worked with them as a lobbyist for the coal industry. "It goes in scrapbooks or maybe boxes. I don't think it's normal practice to say it's all discarded."

Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt said Wednesday that "Obama has a track record of leading the way on reform and disclosure," adding that "correspondence with state agencies and records of requests Obama made to them on behalf of his constituents are available to the public and have been accessed by our opponents and members of the news media."

Pressed for details, LaBolt said Obama did not keep any correspondence with the general public. Ditto for letters to or from state associations and lobbyists, memos on legislation and correspondence with Illinois state agencies. The campaign said Illinois agencies have copies of his requests for information or help, but accessing those records would involve contacting the agencies and asking them to comb though eight years of records to find correspondence from Obama.

Meanwhile, the campaign of John Edwards - Clinton and Obama's leading rival for the Democratic nomination - said Wednesday it will release the records from his single term representing North Carolina in the U.S. Senate.

"Senator Edwards will release the records from his Senate office and is committed to getting this done as quickly as possible," said spokeswoman Colleen Murray. "He is currently in discussions with some North Carolina institutions to figure out where to best house the documents, and in the next few weeks we should have a better sense of when the release will begin."

Obama criticized Clinton during a debate in Philadelphia at the end of October, comparing her record on records to the Bush administration and saying the country had "just gone through one of the most secretive administrations in our history."

Clinton's papers from her time as first lady, including her work leading a controversial health care task force in her husband's first term, are held at the National Archives and Records Administration. The Clinton campaign has said that neither she nor husband Bill Clinton can do anything to speed the process of review at the National Archives that must precede the papers' becoming public.

Every president can, and usually does, exercise a right to withhold some documents for up to 12 years after leaving office. Bill Clinton wrote in a 2002 letter that he did not want the agency to release communications between the first lady and him for that period.

Obama hasn't always claimed there were no papers left from his time in the state Senate. Earlier this year, campaign spokesman LaBolt asked The Associated Press to narrow a request for records on whether Obama had ever urged clemency for a convicted criminal.

"You're asking us to do an extremely exhaustive search into every record we have from the U.S. Senate and state Senate offices," LaBolt said at the time. At the news conference in Iowa last week, Obama said he didn't "have a whole bunch of records from those years," but told reporters to "let us know" if there are "particular documents that you are interested in."

As for Edwards, the AP asked the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for records and papers from the Center on Poverty Work and Opportunity, the research center Edwards founded and ran after the 2004 campaign. The university acknowledged receiving the request, but would not comment on whether it would be granted.

Edwards left the poverty center last December, shortly before announcing his second bid for the White House. Campaign spokeswoman Murray said the campaign does not control the records, which belong to the university.

"As a public institution, the University of North Carolina has its own procedures, which we respect, and we hope they will release everything they can that is consistent with those policies," Murray said.

Wills contributed from Springfield, Ill. Associated Press writer Beth Fouhy contributed to this report from New York.

Take a look
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks to members of the United Auto Workers Region 4 Conference during a stop at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa, Tuesday, November 13, 2007. Obama said Tuesday that rival candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's doubts about big foreign trade deals came only in the heat of the U.S. presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Mark Hirsch)
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Reader comments on this story - 37 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Sensible wrote on Feb 3, 2008 8:07 PM:

" It amazes me when people can talk about someone being nominated for a public office when you don't even know the person.....Why not focus on the good of a person, and if you don't feel they have done anything good....keep it to yourselves. Everyone can look at others faults....all of us have faults. And the bible, clearly states, when everyone is talking good about you, be careful...because you are on the wrong road. The person who fears GOD and will seek God for guidance is the person who should be President.....Stop bad mouthing the candidates....none of us are perfect. "

hahaha wrote on Nov 27, 2007 10:23 AM:

" To "Obama" who wrote "" Is losing a lot of steam. I don't think he's going to win,... yay! " I don't give a hoot that you don't like Obama. That's your opinion, but you did show you incredible ignorance of everything going on in the elections right now. I mean you don't even really have to look. Every headline and news story about the Dem's right now is showing Clinton and Obama tied in the early primary states and shows Clinton's lead narrowing in the national scope as a whole. Come on now... make an intelligent comment so we can have a real discussion. "

Melba wrote on Nov 16, 2007 4:22 PM:

" Obama is the next President, you other haters GET OVER IT! Before Obama's election to the Senate, he has done major "Grassroots" work really reaching out and helping people in need. How do you suppose he won the race to the Senate against other opponents! This is not rocket science stuff people! Something happened for him to obtain that level of favor! There are documented testimonials from his constituency! Obama voted against the war, Hilary voted for it! Who has the better judgement! Enough of the Clinton and Bush' already! "

JD wrote on Nov 15, 2007 5:13 PM:

" To those saying voting 3rd party is throwing your vote away, you are showing your true ignorance of the election process. NO vote is a wasted vote. Wasted voting would be something like rubber stamping a candidate because of party affiliation, not their platform. Voting 3rd party, even if the candidate is not elected, shows dissatisfaction with the current bipartisan politics, and if the bipartisan groups do not straighten up, will ultimately lead to additional parties, who the populace feel does represent them, gaining in power. "

Me wrote on Nov 15, 2007 2:42 PM:

" Does anyone else think that it is absolutely deplorable that the Pantagraph is not picking up on this issue and running with it? Instead, they are burying this story as far down as they can. Come on; do some investigative reporting for once!!! This guy is running for the most prominent position in the land. Do your homework on him and report the fact to us!!! And you Pantagraph people wonder why no buys your rag... "

TO: Downstater: wrote on Nov 15, 2007 2:22 PM:

" Well said, couldn't have said it better myself. "

not real wrote on Nov 15, 2007 11:47 AM:

" I thought someone was able to prove the Obama tapes were fake. Oh wait, that was the Osama tapes, easy mistake. "

Why wrote on Nov 15, 2007 11:24 AM:

" Why would anyone support this man for President? I watched a debate, and he looked lost, stumbling over thoughts, long pauses, etc. His one good quality was his ability to speak publicly, but he has proven that has to be scripted. He has no record for you to support. Why support him? What pulls anyone towards him? Anyone? "

To: "marytnurse" wrote on Nov 15, 2007 11:21 AM:

" I have a low position for the company I work for and I have a whole file cabinet and desk that shows my work history. Are you so blind to think that a sitting senator (state and federal) has NOTHING??? Are you a fool???? "

no credibility+hypocrisy wrote on Nov 15, 2007 10:36 AM:

" Well, you can add a ton of hypocrisy to Obama's lack of credibility. No one asked me but that makes a man practically unelectable, even in this seriously dysfunctional country. "

Ron Paul wrote on Nov 15, 2007 10:19 AM:

" will be the new edition of Ross Perot. You might as well throw your vote away. Hey...at least your voice is heard. "

me wrote on Nov 15, 2007 10:12 AM:

" If you don't have records to produce, then you've obviously destroyed all your records, which seems logical to assume you have something to hide, or you never want to be held accountable for what you've done. The next obvious conclusion is you can't be trusted. "

Ross Perot anyone? wrote on Nov 15, 2007 10:11 AM:

" Come on! I say we give him one more chance to be our president. "

marytnurse wrote on Nov 15, 2007 10:02 AM:

" Why would we be bothering to compare a state senator, who has a voting record and bill sponsorship log IN THE CONGRESS, that have already been reviewed, to a president (vis a vis his first lady), who has no voting record, has no other way of monitoring what was done during her time in office? I don't have records of much of anything unless it's electronic. I don't have a secretary. Could any of us produce our calendars from that long ago? It's been suggested that "most" of them keep records "as a matter of pride", to "show off" what they did. Why would a man like Senator Obama need to show off? I don't get what the flap is. Unless those of you posting have already decided and have closed your ears and your minds. Sad. "

Math student wrote on Nov 15, 2007 9:42 AM:

" Chicago + Democrat = Crooked Politician "

country boy wrote on Nov 15, 2007 9:41 AM:

" Stephen Colbert for President!!! there is no BS there, he speaks the truth... "

What a Joke... wrote on Nov 15, 2007 8:48 AM:

" Obama is a complete JOKE!! The only records that he has is being a sponsor of bill to help kill babies. (Not allowing pediatrician care for a baby after the baby is born alive during an abortion) I, too, would want to keep that hidden from the people of the U.S. if I were running for president. "

Re: To Guess What wrote on Nov 15, 2007 8:41 AM:

" Really? Please tell me where I'm wrong... "

Gee, Imagine That... wrote on Nov 15, 2007 8:40 AM:

" Another Democrat that cannot come up the records... Never heard this one before... "

No record wrote on Nov 15, 2007 7:59 AM:

" What an outstanding accomplishment. Illinois State Senate and no records, at all. How is that even possible. I don't care if you worked at McDonalds for a week, there will be a record of it and how you performed. Why would anyone consider voting a person president that has no record of experience. All I know about the man is that he was raised as a radical Muslim. Beware the trojan horse. "

Obama wrote on Nov 15, 2007 7:27 AM:

" Is losing a lot of steam. I don't think he's going to win,... yay! "

Don't need records wrote on Nov 15, 2007 7:05 AM:

" Just look what a shambles the state of Illinois is in under the democratic rule for years and there's your "record". "

Lucky wrote on Nov 15, 2007 6:25 AM:

" He's got no record because he's never done anything for Illinois. "

I am a vote wasting IDIOT wrote on Nov 15, 2007 6:09 AM:

" Ron Paul '08 "

To Hillary is HISTORY wrote on Nov 15, 2007 5:39 AM:

" I believe Edwards WILL win. "

No Records=NO WORK wrote on Nov 15, 2007 2:12 AM:

" All this guy has done since he got elected as far as I can see is run for president. I fail to see why he is even being paid. I have no confidence in this slick talking man. Lets see his voting record and also a list of accomplishments other than being a well groomed and spoken professional candidate. He is somebodies pawn and they have taken lengths to keep that fact hidden by making sure he kept no records. He is one of the new breed of slick politicians who have obviously learned from other mistakes. I bet he has some skeletons hidden somewhere, only they will not surface until it is too late. "

Help save America! wrote on Nov 15, 2007 1:17 AM:

" Vote for Ron Paul in '08. "

what an idiot wrote on Nov 15, 2007 12:23 AM:

" no records? give me a break. he's either hiding something, or he never really had anything to begin with. who IS he and WHERE did he come from? rise to fame was amazingly quick, i live here and had NEVER heard of him before Oprah sang his praises. Now he thinks he should be president? Sounds to me like he isn't prepred for that if he can't even keep track/accountability within the job he has now. Big problem here, I hope America is smart enough to discern it. I do think Ron Paul, the constitutionalist is awesome....but unfortunately, the big wheeler dealers in the parties will shut him out. Too bad, cuz America needs someone honest with convicton and commitment to the values and basic principles that this country was founded upon. "

To Guess What wrote on Nov 15, 2007 12:06 AM:

" You have no idea what you are talking about! "

Guess What? wrote on Nov 14, 2007 9:54 PM:

" All of you saying you won't vote for him, it doesn't matter. He will win Illinois without your vote! I can't wait until he's inaugurated, it will be a wonderful day and a turning point in establishing this country as a world leader again. The current administration has ran this country into the ground, along with your freedoms. "

No records wrote on Nov 14, 2007 9:08 PM:

" No vote. "

No vote wrote on Nov 14, 2007 7:21 PM:

" I do NOT like him! "

JD wrote on Nov 14, 2007 6:11 PM:

" Obama has no records because he was mediocre at best in the Illinois senate. He has not done anything worthy is keeping records on. Granted, he is charismatic, but he has just not done anything but talk. He can promise the moon and the stars, but his 'record' shows that he is just a talker, not a deliverer. In Illinois politics, that is enough as shown by our 'illustrious' Blago, but in the national arena one needs more than just words, especially when the populace is getting sick and tired of the status quo. "

I'm telln ya~~ wrote on Nov 14, 2007 6:00 PM:

" Will Farrell for PREZ!!! "

Hillary is HISTORY wrote on Nov 14, 2007 5:47 PM:

" Obama will be the nominee, unelectable Hillary gone shortly as the media will turn against her. The media wants the win and knows now Hillary can't be elected. They also know Edwards can't win. Everything else is smoke. Media will manipulate towards their end. This is going to be very interesting and historical. But it's Obama without a doubt; new it when he gave his announcement speech. wasp "

Downstater wrote on Nov 14, 2007 5:45 PM:

" The reason he can't produce any records of his records from in the Illinois state senate is he never accomplished anything. Why in the world anyone thinks this young man is qualified to be president is beyond me. He only got elected to the Senate by default due to Ryan's strange swinging lifestyle. "

;-0 wrote on Nov 14, 2007 5:40 PM:

" Obama is a sellout socialist...Vote Ron Paul for a honest man... "
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