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 Arkansas, 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 woman to become president after being elected to the office- previous president Jeane Kirkpatrick became president after the assassination of Ronald Reagan.

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

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. Other issues included the administration of Sudan, which was under continued military occupation, LGBT rights, and the ongoing economic recession.