Obama says he is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi

WASHINGTON: Barack Obama, Democratic front-runner for the US Presidential nomination, sees Mahatma Gandhi as an inspiration and has a portrait of the apostle of peace in his office to remind him that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

"In my life, I have always looked to Mahatma Gandhi as an inspiration, because he embodies the kind of transformational change that can be made when ordinary people come together to do extraordinary things," he wrote in a yet to be published article in newspaper.

"That is why his portrait hangs in my Senate office; to remind me that real results will not just come from Washington, they will come from the people," he said in the article, excerpts of which were provided in a write-up yesterday.

That is why, he said, "I am proud to have the longstanding support of so many Indian Americans in all aspects of my campaign (for party nomination for the post of the President), as well as the endorsements of leading elected Indian American lawmakers."