I'm Dennis Haysbert, and I Approved This Message

The actor says that his character on 24 helped Senator Obama

The former president of the United States of 24, Dennis Haysbert, says he may have helped make Barack Obama's candidacy possible.

"If anything, my portrayal of David Palmer, I think, may have helped open the eyes of the American people," says the actor. "And I mean the American people from across the board—from the poorest to the richest, every color and creed, every religious base—to prove the possibility there could be an African-American president, a female president, any type of president that puts the people first."

As ardent supporters of his fake presidency, we won't argue with him. Still, he may have his history a little askew: Hadn't Morgan Freeman already been president during the Deep Impact administration?

Senator Obama seems to think so. Upon meeting Freeman back in April, Obama said, "This guy was president before I was."