Time magazine names Obama 2008 "Person of the Year"

The magazine last year selected Russian leader Vladimir Putin as its 2007 "Person of the Year."

Time said its "Person of the Year" selection was the "person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or ill, and embodied what was important about the year."

In an interview with Time, Obama said that while he may have won a "decisive victory" over Republican John McCain in the November presidential election, "I don't think that Americans want hubris from their next president.

Obama told Time that "dealing with our transatlantic alliance in a more constructive way and trying to build a more effective relationship with the newly assertive and, I believe, inappropriately aggressive Russia, when it comes to the invasion of Georgia -- that is going to be a priority."And seeing if we can build on some of the progress, at least in conversation, that's been made around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be a priority," he said.

"Paying more attention to Latin America ... that, I think, would be very important," he continued. "And finally, managing our relationship with China and the entire Pacific Rim, I think, is something that will keep not just me busy but my successor busy."

Obama, who is to be sworn in on January 20 as the 44th president of the United States and the first African-American chief executive, said long-term priorities include nuclear proliferation and climate change."I think dealing with development and poverty around the world is going to be a critical component of our foreign policy," he added. "It's good for our security and not just charity."

That's right. Time magazine's Person of the Year 2008 goes hands-down to U.S. president-elect Barack Obama. Should we be surprised? Maybe, maybe not. But how will Obama rate for 2009? He hasn't done anything yet, so we'll see. To Read More info Click Here.