The performance: The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated his policy proposals would add a net $428 billion to the deficit over four years, even accounting for his spending reduction goals. Now, the deficit is nearly quadrupling to $1.75 trillion, and few independent analysts believe he can meet his goal of halving the deficit in five years.

Ethics-open government

The promise: “When you walk into my administration, you will not be able to work on regulations or contracts directly related to your former employer for two years. And when you leave, you will not be able to lobby the administration throughout the remainder of my term in office.” — Manchester, N.H., June 22, 2007


The performance: Obama imposed strict rules barring registered lobbyists from working for him for two years after their registrations expire. But once in office he devised a waiver that would allow exceptions for “uniquely qualified individuals.”


The promise: “As president, Obama will not sign any nonemergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House Web site for five days.” — campaign Web site


The performance: Poor, starting with his first bill, a nonemergency measure giving workers more time to take their pay discrimination cases to court. No more than two days passed before it became law. Only one bill in the first 11 was posted online for five days after it cleared Congress and before Obama signed it, the Cato Institute found.

War

The promise: “I will remove one or two brigades a month, and get all of our combat troops out of Iraq within 16 months.” — October 2007 and again in the summer and fall 2008 campaign

The performance: Obama is moving to remove combat troops by Aug. 31, 2010, 19 months after he took office.


The promise: “As president, I would pursue a new strategy, and begin by providing at least two additional combat brigades [about 7,000 troops] to support our effort in Afghanistan.” — July 14, 2008


The performance: Obama has ordered 21,000 troops into Afghanistan in an escalation that will bring the U.S. total over 60,000, the most to date.

Wasteful spending

The promise: “And, absolutely, we need earmark reform. And when I’m president, I will go line by line to make sure that we are not spending money unwisely.” — presidential debate, Sept. 26, 2008

Performance: On March 11, Obama signed into law a $410 billion spending bill to finance the government through September — a measure that included 7,991 earmarks costing $5.5 billion. He signed the bill while calling it “imperfect” and urging tighter controls on pet projects.