The Chicago Tribune reports: “[In] 1996, operatives for Barack Obama … began the tedious process of challenging hundreds of signatures on the nominating petitions of state Sen. Alice Palmer, the longtime progressive activist from the city's South Side.  And they kept challenging petitions until every one of Obama's four Democratic primary rivals was forced off the ballot…. A close examination of Obama's first campaign clouds the image he has cultivated throughout his political career: The man now running for president on a message of giving a voice to the voiceless first entered public office not by leveling the playing field, but by clearing it.”

All of this was perfectly legal and Obama justifies it by saying: “If you can win, you should win and get to work doing the people’s business.”  (Freddoso.  The Case against Barack Obama)

More from the Toronto Star on Obama’s efforts disqualifying opponents.