From being an unknown entity, Barack Obama has really gone so far. It’s really a wonder that some 2 years ago not a lot has even heard of him, yet now, he is already one of the biggest leaders in the world, President-elect of the United States of America. He garners another victory for being proclaimed TIME Magazine’s “Person of the Year” for 2008. Why was he chosen? TIME’s Richard Stengel said in the interview at the Today Show that barrack Obama is “a transitional figure, he’s done something extraordinary, he made some promises that he’s actually kept already. But ultimately he’s the quintessential person of the year.”

On December 5, TIME Magazine managing editor Richard Stengel, editor-at-large David Von Drehle, and Time Inc. editor-in-chief John Huey sat down with the President-elect Barack Obama to get first-hand information about his views on the country’s current situation as well as his plans for the future.

This issue of the TIME Magazine is something you should not miss. It contains in-depth information about Barack Obama, his roots, his younger years like when he was just in College. Exclusive and unpublished photos of his younger years at Occidental College are also included in the latest issue.

TIME also cited five runners-up for 2008 Person of the Year, these are: Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy, GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, and Zhang Yimou.