From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Barack Obama is the Democrat nominee. Beyond that, who is he?

Hello again, I'm Orinalini, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Despite many months of campaigning and hours of TV exposure, Barack Obama remains a puzzle to millions of potential voters.

Is he a high-minded idealist with the vision and the capacity to get America back on track?

Or another Machiavellian politician who just wants to win?

On To the Point, we'll hear about core values the flip-flop on public financing and fighting the unfounded rumors.

Can he win over skeptics with his oratorical skills?

Is he in need of a big idea?

On reporter's notebook later on, accomplishing an impossible dream will require trade-offs in Florida's Everglades.

First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John

D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Hello again, Mormon Al-Nal. I'll be back with To the Point. MacArthur Foundation. Hello again, Mormon, I'll

back with To the Point. Just months before the November election, Barack Obama is an unknown

quantity to millions of voters. Does he share the values of most Americans? What about campaign

finance and wiretaps without warrants? Does he represent a new kind of politics? Or more of the same?

We'll get some answers to those questions.

On reporter's notebook, $1.7 billion to help restore Florida's Everglades, what will that deal

mean for Governor Charlie Christ? First, this news update, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that

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