2008 United States presidential election

The 2008 United States presidential election was the 56th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. The Republican ticket of Hillary Rodham, a U.S. senator from New York, and Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City, defeated the America First ticket of John McCain, the incumbent president, and Colin Powell, the incumbent Vice President as well as the Progressive ticket of Russ Feingold, a U.S. senator from Wisconsin and Ed Markey, a U.S. representative for Massachusetts 7th congressional district. Rodham became the first female to be elected to the presidency.

President John McCain’s campaign was heavily dented after an unexpectedly strong primary challenge from AFP senator Bill Quimby.

The early campaign focused heavily on President McCain’s involvement in the Liberian War, with Rodham and Feingold being opposed to the war and McCain, who having started it, declared it a triumph.