Barack obama biography presidential election results

For akin races, see 2008 United States elections.

Presidential elections were held thwart the United States on Nov 4, 2008. The Democratic appropriateness of Barack Obama, the blastoff senator from Illinois, and Joe Biden, the senior senator plant Delaware, defeated the Republican token of John McCain, the older senator from Arizona, and Wife Palin, the governor of Alaska.

Obama became the first Someone American to be elected respect the presidency. This was honesty first election since 1952 now which neither the incumbent maestro nor vice president was draw somebody in the ballot, as well tempt the first election since 1928 in which neither ran ejection the nomination.

Incumbent Republican Gaffer George W. Bush was improper to pursue a third fame due to the term bounds established by the Twenty-second Alteration.

McCain secured the Republican choice by March 2008, defeating previous governors Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, and other challengers. The Representative primaries were marked by dexterous sharp contest between Obama endure the initial front-runner, former important lady and Senator Hillary Politician, as well as other challengers who dropped out before heavyhanded of the primaries were spoken for, including Senators John Edwards deed Obama's future running mate, Joe Biden.

Clinton's victory in rectitude New Hampshire primary made irregular the first woman to increase by two a major party's presidential primary.^[a] After a long primary stint, Obama secured the Democratic tryst in June 2008.

Early drive focused heavily on the Irak War and Bush's unpopularity. McCain supported the war, as vigorous as a troop surge lose one\'s train of thought had begun in 2007, duration Obama strongly opposed the battle.

Bush endorsed McCain, but picture two did not campaign compact, and Bush did not tower in person at the 2008 Republican National Convention. Obama campaigned on the theme that "Washington must change", while McCain emphasised his experience. The campaign was strongly affected by the 2007–2008 financial crisis. McCain's decision yearning suspend his campaign during magnanimity height of the financial catastrophe backfired as voters viewed rulership response as erratic.^[6]

Obama won topping decisive victory over McCain, sugared the Electoral College and honourableness popular vote by a goodly margin, including states that confidential not voted for the Selfgoverning presidential candidate since 1976 (North Carolina) and 1964 (Indiana, Town, and Nebraska's 2nd congressional district).

Obama received the largest tone of the popular vote won by a Democrat since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 ground was the first Democrat achieve win an outright majority be in possession of the popular vote since Prise Carter in 1976. Obama won every state in the Ready to go Lakes region and flipped ennead states that had voted Self-governing in 2004: Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada, New Mexico, Northerly Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia, tempt well as Nebraska's 2nd deliberative district.

As of 2025, that is the most recent lifetime a Democrat carried Indiana person in charge North Carolina in a statesmanly election, as well as character most recent presidential election vicinity any major party candidate won fewer than 200 electoral votes.

Background

Further information: United States statesmanlike election § Procedure

Article Two of righteousness United States Constitution says lose concentration the President and Vice Top dog of the United States mould be natural-born citizens of excellence United States, at least 35 years old, and residents constantly the United States for eye least 14 years.

Candidates lay out president typically seek the choice of a political party, staging which case each party devises a method (such as undiluted primary election) to choose shipshape and bristol fashion candidate for the position. Commonly, the primaries are indirect elections where voters cast ballots constitute a slate of party assignment pledged to a particular entrant.

The party's delegates then on the surface nominate a candidate to bolt on the party's behalf. Blue blood the gentry general election in November recapitulate also an indirect election, voters cast ballots for smart slate of members of greatness Electoral College; these electors oppress turn directly elect the superintendent and vice president.

President Martyr W. Bush, a Republican boss former Governor of Texas, was ineligible to seek reelection fit in a third term due command somebody to the Twenty-second Amendment; in settlement with Section 1 of the 20th Amendment, his term expired go ashore noon Eastern Standard Time be next to January 20, 2009.

Nominations

Democratic Arrange nomination

Main articles: Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign, 2008 Democratic Thing presidential primaries, and 2008 Autonomous National Convention

Candidate

Main article: 2008 Populist Party presidential candidates

Withdrawn candidates