I’ve never understood that argument. He used some words that evoked the feeling of progressivism. But at no point did he actually say he was progressive or present a progressive vision. He was always slightly left of center, and very clearly ran as that, while having a campaign that appealed broadly. I honestly think people took “hope”, " change" and first black president and just assumed it.

I challenge you to find even one piece of Obama campaign lit that actually presented him as a progressive.