Election of 2008

The Democrats

On February 10, 2007, Senator Barack Obama announced his candidacy in front of the Old State Capitol building in Springfield, Illinois. The choice of the site was symbolic, particularly for the man who would become the first African American president, because it was where Abraham Lincoln delivered his “House Divided” speech in 1858. Obama was quickly joined by several Democratic hopefuls, including New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, former North Carolina senator and 2004 vice-presidential nominee John Edwards, and several others. Throughout 2007 and 2008, the candidates engaged in more than twenty-five debates and ran in more than fifty state caucuses or primary elections. By March 2008, the leading candidates were Senator Obama and Senator Clinton. After the June 3 primaries, however, when it became clear that Obama had clinched the nomination, Senator Clinton suspended her campaign and gave her full support to Senator Obama. On August 27, at the Democratic convention, Senator Clinton interrupted the roll-call vote and asked that Senator Obama be officially nominated by acclamation. Thus, Obama became the first African American to head a major party ticket. The nominee selected Senator Joe Biden of Delaware as his vice-presidential running mate.

The Republicans

Several Republicans sought the nomination of their party. Arizona Senator John McCain informally announced his candidacy on the David Letterman show on February 28, 2007 and a formal announcement on April 25, 2007. Other candidates included former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee. At the beginning of the campaign, McCain did poorly, and no candidate emerged as the front-runner. By the end of December 2007, [Page 117]however, McCain clearly led the other candidates. In March 2008, McCain clinched the nomination by sweeping the state primaries. He chose Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate, making Palin the first woman on the party's top ticket.

The Campaign and the Election

The Democratic and Republican candidates crisscrossed the nation making appearances and giving speeches. For the first time, each of the candidates set up homepages on YouTube, the Internet video-sharing website, in a concerted effort to reach younger voters. Throughout the campaign the candidates traded barbs and accusations and aired negative campaign ads. Both candidates claimed to be the leader who, as president, would bring about the changes needed in the nation.

As Election Day approached, record numbers of voters cast absentee ballots or chose to vote early—a relatively new opportunity for many voters with lines lasting for four or five hours. Political experts predicated an unprecedented turnout on November 4. On election night, Senator Obama won an overwhelming victory, winning more than 50 percent of the popular vote and 365 electoral votes to John McCain's 173. Whereas in 2004 the margin of victory between Republican President Bush and John Kerry had been only 3 million popular votes, Obama beat McCain by 8.5 million votes.

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