Election of 2008

In the election of 2008, Illinois senator Barack Obama faced off against Arizona senator John McCain.

Obama campaigned on change, using a grassroots approach to encourage first time voters. McCain displayed himself as a senator willing to push the envelope in Washington.  And, he selected a woman, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, as his running mate.  The economy was the hot button issue of the day with mortgage-backed securities causing a major downturn in the financial sector.

Obama won with 68% of the electoral votes, becoming our first African-American president.

 

 

 

Campaign Poster

44 Bo, Hope, color screen print, by Shepard Fairey, 2008
Hope, color screenprint by Shepard Fairey, 2008 (Library of Congress)

election of 2008 map

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