Career, Politics, and FamilyThe Republican candidate, Jack Ryan, appeared tough to beat. A good-looking millionaire with an Ivy League education, Ryan had given up a career on Wall Street to teach in inner-city schools. Ryan campaign, however, self-destructed when his divorce proceedings unleashed a scandal that ended his political run. Ryan dropped out of the race on June 25, 2004. To prevent Barack from running unopposed, the Republicans scrambled for a replacement candidate. Some suggested the former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka might enter the race. Michelle worried that the beloved coach might just give Barack a run for his money. As these events were playing themselves out, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the Democratic Party 2004 presidential nominee, was preparing for the national convention in Boston. Stuck in a tight race with President George W. Bush, Kerry needed someone to give a memorable keynote address on July 27. Kerry had met Barack at a June fund-raiser and was struck by his ability to connect with a crowd. Given the importance of the Senate seat in Illinois and Barack gifts as a speaker, Kerry offered him the spot.�97THE KEYNOTE ADDRESSWith Michelle help, Barack started crafting his speech. When the Kerry campaign sought to edit it, Michelle told her husband, tick to your guns. Youe the only one who knows what right for you.�8 As the day of the speech approached, the tension built. The press had started buzzing about the unknown Barack Obama and the speech kept receiving edits and reedits. Finally, a frustrated Barack asked Michelle what she thought of it. think,�she said, hat youe not going to embarrass the family.�9 Before Barack went onstage to address the thousands in attendance at Boston Fleet Center and the millions
