Smoking signifies freedom of the individual to make ones choices in a free society, be it a common man or a possible future President of the United States of America. Obama may not be the first Presidential candidate who smoked, but he has potential to become one of the most influential one in this century. In an increasingly media sensitive environment, his smoking in public did not go down easy. Lest gains made by the decades old anti-smoking campaign end up in smoke, public opinion forced Obama amidst the election campaign to announce kicking the butt. The worried health professionals and anti smoking campaigners breathe easy but the message remains that a presidential candidate promising ‘change’ could end up becoming an icon for millions of youngsters who may take to smoking in his steps.