The Election of 2008
It was four years ago today, on November 4, 2008, that Barack Hussein Obama became the first African-American to be elected President of the United States.
On February 10, 2007, Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States in front of the Old State Capitol building in Springfield, Illinois. The location for the announcement was chosen for its symbolism because it was where Abraham Lincoln delivered his historic "House Divided" speech in 1858. In the speech Obama emphasized issues of rapidly ending the Iraq War, increasing energy independence, and providing universal health care. His campaign themes were "hope" and "change".
A large number of candidates entered the Democratic Party presidential primaries including former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, and Delaware Senator Joe Biden. The field narrowed to a duel between Obama and New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton after early contests. The race remained close throughout the primary process but Obama gained a steady lead in pledged delegates due to a better organized campaign and superior fundraising. On June 7, 2008, Clinton ended her campaign and endorsed Obama.
On August 23, Obama announced his selection of Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate. At the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, Hillary Clinton called for her supporters to endorse Obama, and she and Bill Clinton gave convention speeches in his support. Obama delivered his acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium to a crowd of over 75,000. The speech was viewed by over 38 million people worldwide.
During both the primary process and the general election, Obama's campaign set numerous fundraising records, particularly in the quantity of small donations. On June 19, 2008, Obama became the first major-party presidential candidate to turn down public financing in the general election since the system was created in 1976.
John McCain was nominated as the Republican candidate and the two engaged in three presidential debates in September and October 2008. Polls taken in the last few months of the presidential campaign and exit polls conducted on Election Day showed the economy as the top concern for voters. In the fall of 2008, the economy was suffering its most serious downturn since the Great Depression and during this period, John McCain's election prospects fell significantly. On September 24, 2008, McCain announced that he was suspending his campaign to return to Washington to help craft a $700 billion bailout package for the troubled financial industry, and he stated that he would not debate Obama until Congress passed the bailout bill. McCain eventually decided to attend the first presidential debate on September 26, despite Congress' lack of immediate action on the bill. His reversal in this decision to attend the debates reflected adversely on McCain's image. Days later, a second version of the original bailout bill was passed by both the House and Senate, with Obama, his vice presidential running mate Joe Biden, and McCain all voting for the measure.
On November 4, Obama won the presidency with 365 electoral votes to 173 received by McCain. Obama won 52.9% of the popular vote to McCain's 45.7%. He became the first African American to be elected president. Obama delivered his victory speech before hundreds of thousands of supporters in Chicago's Grant Park. A record 131.2 million votes were cast, reflecting voter turnout of about 63.0%, the highest since 1960.
In three days time we should know whether history will relegate Barack Obama to the list of one-term or two-term presidents.
On February 10, 2007, Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States in front of the Old State Capitol building in Springfield, Illinois. The location for the announcement was chosen for its symbolism because it was where Abraham Lincoln delivered his historic "House Divided" speech in 1858. In the speech Obama emphasized issues of rapidly ending the Iraq War, increasing energy independence, and providing universal health care. His campaign themes were "hope" and "change".
A large number of candidates entered the Democratic Party presidential primaries including former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, and Delaware Senator Joe Biden. The field narrowed to a duel between Obama and New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton after early contests. The race remained close throughout the primary process but Obama gained a steady lead in pledged delegates due to a better organized campaign and superior fundraising. On June 7, 2008, Clinton ended her campaign and endorsed Obama.
On August 23, Obama announced his selection of Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate. At the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, Hillary Clinton called for her supporters to endorse Obama, and she and Bill Clinton gave convention speeches in his support. Obama delivered his acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium to a crowd of over 75,000. The speech was viewed by over 38 million people worldwide.
During both the primary process and the general election, Obama's campaign set numerous fundraising records, particularly in the quantity of small donations. On June 19, 2008, Obama became the first major-party presidential candidate to turn down public financing in the general election since the system was created in 1976.
John McCain was nominated as the Republican candidate and the two engaged in three presidential debates in September and October 2008. Polls taken in the last few months of the presidential campaign and exit polls conducted on Election Day showed the economy as the top concern for voters. In the fall of 2008, the economy was suffering its most serious downturn since the Great Depression and during this period, John McCain's election prospects fell significantly. On September 24, 2008, McCain announced that he was suspending his campaign to return to Washington to help craft a $700 billion bailout package for the troubled financial industry, and he stated that he would not debate Obama until Congress passed the bailout bill. McCain eventually decided to attend the first presidential debate on September 26, despite Congress' lack of immediate action on the bill. His reversal in this decision to attend the debates reflected adversely on McCain's image. Days later, a second version of the original bailout bill was passed by both the House and Senate, with Obama, his vice presidential running mate Joe Biden, and McCain all voting for the measure.
On November 4, Obama won the presidency with 365 electoral votes to 173 received by McCain. Obama won 52.9% of the popular vote to McCain's 45.7%. He became the first African American to be elected president. Obama delivered his victory speech before hundreds of thousands of supporters in Chicago's Grant Park. A record 131.2 million votes were cast, reflecting voter turnout of about 63.0%, the highest since 1960.
In three days time we should know whether history will relegate Barack Obama to the list of one-term or two-term presidents.