I got excited about Barack Obama before I knew a lot about him. Obama has only been in the Senate for three years, so his voting record doesn't have too much that's interesting yet (although his votes against his party have some interesting nuggets.) So I have to look for little kernels that shed light on what's unique about his record.

Update: this Times piece is the most comprehensive look at Obama's record I've seen, going back to his community organizing days and with actual insight about what he achieved as a legislator, rather than just a list of votes.

Update: get past the velociraptor jokes and there's some great discussion in this reddit thread.

• He's willing to talk about child care as an issue of equality
• He proposed a relatively detailed health care plan that economist Brad DeLong likes although he has since come in for criticism from other economists (because he didn't go far enough, apparently - he isn't willing so far to admit that mandates on employers would be required. Update: Obama on why his plan doesn't include a mandate.)
• Cute
• Open to limited legalization of marijuana
• He'd talk directly to Iran
• Open to nuclear power (everyone will have to be eventually; Hillary is "agnostic")
• Voting record contrasted with Hillary's. No earthshaking revelations.
• A look at his "present" votes in the Illinois state senate
• To be continued...