Final answer:
Barack Obama had a lot of power when he first came to office because of his strong mandate, the support of a politically aligned Congress, and his ability to harness social media and grassroots enthusiasm.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Barack Obama first came to office as President of the United States, he had a lot of power for several reasons:
- First, he had a strong mandate from the American people. He won the election with a large majority of electoral votes and had a high approval rating. This gave him a strong political capital to enact his agenda.
- Second, he had the support of a politically aligned Congress. The Democrats had the majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, which made it easier for Obama to pass legislation and push through his policies.
- Third, Obama was able to harness the power of social media and grassroots enthusiasm. He used social platforms to connect with supporters and rally them behind his agenda, which added to his political influence.