The Quote:
"I've been in 57 states, I think one left to go.""
—Barack Obana
Context:
In May 2008, speaking at a campaign stop in Beaverton, Oregon, a very weary Barack Obama drew laughter from the crowd when he declared that he'd been to 57 states. "I think one left to go," he said. Obviously, the U.S. has only 50 states, but Obama tried to deflect by joking that his staff wouldn't let him visit Hawaii or Alaska. (Which, if you're counting, raises the total number of states in Obama's fictional United States to 59.)
A presidential-candidate at the time, Obama owned-up to the dumb slip later that day, telling reporters, “I understand I said there were 57 states today. It’s a sign that my numeracy is getting a little, uh…”
But his honesty won him no favors. The stupid mistake was already out there and well on its way to infamy.
What the Fact Checkers Say
Snopes and others suggest Obama likely meant to say 47 states, not "57" — indicating a mental slip rather than intentional exaggeration.
Who Said it?
Barack Obama was the 44th President of the United States. He made history as the nation’s first African American commander-in-chief. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama previously served as a U.S. senator representing Illinois from 2005 to 2008 and as an Illinois state senator from 1997 to 2004.
After graduating from Columbia University, Obama worked as a community organizer in Chicago. He later earned a law degree from Harvard University, where he became the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review.
In 2008, Obama was elected President of the United States on a message of hope and change, defeating Senator John McCain ad Sarah Palin. One of his landmark achievements was the Affordable Care Act, which expanded healthcare coverage to millions. Reelected in 2012, Obama continued pushing progressive policies while facing a sharply divided Congress.
Bornin Honolulu, Hawaii, to a Kenyan father and a Kansan mother, Obama spent much of his Presidency embroiled in controversy over his birth certificate. Conspiracy theorists believe it was fake, claiming he was actually born in Africa and therefore not eligible to be President of the United States.
Beyond politics, Barack Obama is known for his eloquence, calm demeanor, and devotion to family—traits that help define his legacy.
Source:
"A small Obama Paradox" Article by Ben Smith pulished at Politico.com, June 22, 2008
