Maya's Sister: Obama a Smart Man A Great Choice

Time: Barack Obama's sister has not emerged in public since the death of their grandmother two days before her brother's historic presidential election, but in a post-election e-mail to close friends, Maya Soetoro-Ng said, "I wept tears of joy for all of us on Tuesday. He may not be a perfect man. Certainly, he has often said that he'll likely be an imperfect President, but he is a good man, a smart man, a disciplined soul who balances temperance with determination and courage. We've made a great choice, I assure you."

Obama Remembers His Grandmother

Obama's Grandmother Dies

Prayers to the Obama family. 

CNN: Sen. Barack Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died following a bout with cancer, Obama and his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, said Monday.

She was 86.

"She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility," their statement said.

"She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure."

Obama and Soetoro-Ng asked that donations be made for the search for a cure for cancer in lieu of flowers. A small private ceremony will be held "at a later date."

Dunham passed away peacefully at her home shortly before midnight Sunday night (5 a.m. ET), campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki told CNN. She said Obama learned of her death around 8 a.m.

The Democratic presidential candidate left the campaign trail on October 23 and flew to Honolulu, Hawaii, to spend the day with Dunham, whose health deteriorated after she suffered a broken hip.

In North Carolina, Obama spoke of his grandmother.
He said she went home. She died peacefully in her sleep with Obama's sister at her side. He called her a quiet hero, like many people in America, people who just try to do the right thing. The satisfaction they get is seeing that their children do better, he said. In one more day, we have the opportunity to honor these quiet heroes, he said.
After he finished speaking of her, he began to cry and tried to stop the tears.

Obama: If You're Not Caring for Your Family

Watch the rest.

Obama To Spend Time With Ailing Grandmother

Obama's heading to Hawaii. Prayers to Obama's grandmother. We'll all carry on the campaign.

MSNBC: Campaign spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters Monday that Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Payne Dunham, who helped raise him, was released from the hospital late last week. But he says her health has deteriorated to the point where her situation is very serious.

Gibbs said Obama would return to the campaign trail on Saturday, though he was unsure where.

CNN: The interruption will cause Obama to cancel Thursday events in Madison, Wisconsin and Des Moines, Iowa. He will do an event in Indianapolis, Indiana, Thursday morning before leaving and will return to the campaign Saturday, Gibbs said.

Michelle Obama will fill in for her husband on Friday at previously scheduled events in Columbus and Akron, Ohio, his campaign said.

Obama has said his 85-year-old grandmother, who helped raise him, "poured everything she had" into him. She became sick in recent weeks.

The Obama team made the announcement after a day of trading attacks with Sen. John McCain on the Democratic presidential hopeful's readiness for office Monday night.