# Canonical recap data for Barack Obama's Election as U.S. President (2008)
# Source: https://recap.at/2008/2008-us-presidential-election-obama
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: 2008-us-presidential-election-obama
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/2008/2008-us-presidential-election-obama"
title: Barack Obama's Election as U.S. President
aliases:
- 2008 U.S. presidential election
- Obama's election
- Obama-McCain election
subtitle: Hope and change toppled the political establishment.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 2008-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 2008
decade: 2000
country:
name: United States
slug: united-states
summaryShort: Barack Obama won the 2008 U.S. presidential election, becoming the first African American president. He defeated Republican John McCain with 365 electoral votes and 52.9% of the popular vote.
summaryLong: |-
  Clarify: Did Clinton win the popular vote among primary voters, or did she win more pledged delegates? Sources vary on primary popular vote tallies.

  Obama's path to the White House began in Springfield, Illinois on February 10, 2007, when he formally announced his candidacy as a fresh alternative to established figures like Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. The Iowa caucuses on January 3, 2008 proved decisive. Obama's win with 37.6% of the vote shattered expectations in a predominantly white state and established him as a viable national candidate rather than a curiosity. Eight days later in New Hampshire, Obama finished second to Clinton, but the narrow margin contradicted predictions of a Clinton landslide and confirmed his momentum was real. The primary battle between Obama and Clinton proved grueling. Clinton suspended her campaign on June 3, 2008 and endorsed Obama, securing the Democratic nomination for him and unifying the party heading into the general election.

  Obama formally accepted the Democratic Party's presidential nomination on August 28, 2008 at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, speaking before an audience of 84,000 in Mile High Stadium. His acceptance speech struck a defiant note about American possibility. "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, tonight is your answer," he declared to the crowd. The final eight weeks of the campaign were reshaped by catastrophe. On September 15, 2008, the investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, triggering the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. The economic collapse dominated the final stretch of the race, forcing both candidates to address not just foreign policy but immediate economic survival.

  The first presidential debate occurred on September 26, 2008 in Oxford, Mississippi, where Obama and McCain clashed over foreign policy and the financial crisis. Obama's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with McCain's more aggressive style, and observers noted the difference in temperament under pressure. On November 4, 2008, Election Day arrived. Obama defeated John McCain decisively, winning 365 electoral votes and 52.9% of the popular vote. He became the 44th president and the first African American president of the United States. McCain responded with grace to his defeat. "I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together," he said.

  The historic nature of the victory registered immediately across the political spectrum. NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw stated simply: "We are looking at the first African American president of the United States. And the country has made a definitive choice." Civil Rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson reflected on the arc of history: "We've come a long way. From the outhouse to the White House. This is a great, great moment in our history." Not all voices celebrated. Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh struck a cautious note: "We are being told that we have to hope he succeeds. That if he fails, the country fails. I don't think that's quite accurate." Yet even as partisan divisions persisted, Obama's election represented a threshold moment in American political history, one that no amount of subsequent disagreement could erase.
lede: On November 4, 2008, Barack Obama became the first African American elected president of the United States, defeating Republican John McCain. Obama, a senator from Illinois with less than four years in the chamber, won 365 electoral votes during a financial crisis that dominated the final months of the campaign. His victory reshaped American politics and marked a significant symbolic moment in the nation's history.
heroImageUrl: "https://live.staticflickr.com/3021/2549599607_7efd135fdb_b.jpg"
heroImageCredit: "\"The History Behind Obama\" by Tony Fischer Photography is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/."
importance: 50
sourceConfidence: 50
keyFacts:
- label: Electoral votes (Obama / McCain)
  value: 365 / 173
- label: Popular vote percentage (Obama)
  value: 52.9%
- label: Popular vote margin
  value: ~9.5 million votes
- label: Total campaign fundraising (Obama)
  value: $750 million
- label: Grant Park victory rally attendance
  value: ~240,000
- label: Inauguration attendance (January 20, 2009)
  value: ~1.8 million
- label: States Obama flipped from 2004
  value: 9 (Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, Indiana, North Carolina, Nevada, New Mexico, Iowa)
- label: Obama's Senate tenure when elected
  value: Less than 4 years
timeline:
- date: 2007-02-10
  title: Obama announces candidacy
  description: Barack Obama formally declares his intention to run for president in Springfield, Illinois, positioning himself as a fresh alternative to established candidates like Hillary Clinton and John Edwards.
- date: 2008-01-03
  title: Iowa caucuses
  description: Obama wins decisively in Iowa with 37.6% of the vote, significantly outperforming expectations in a predominantly white state and establishing himself as a viable national candidate.
- date: 2008-01-08
  title: New Hampshire primary
  description: Obama finishes second to Hillary Clinton, but the narrow margin contradicts predictions of a Clinton landslide and confirms Obama's momentum.
- date: 2008-06-03
  title: Clinton ends campaign, endorses Obama
  description: After a grueling primary battle, Hillary Clinton suspends her campaign and endorses Barack Obama, securing the Democratic nomination for Obama.
- date: 2008-08-28
  title: Obama accepts Democratic nomination
  description: Obama formally accepts the Democratic Party's presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, before an audience of 84,000 in Mile High Stadium.
- date: 2008-09-15
  title: Lehman Brothers collapses
  description: The investment bank Lehman Brothers files for bankruptcy, triggering the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression and reshaping the campaign's final eight weeks.
- date: 2008-09-26
  title: First presidential debate
  description: Obama and McCain debate foreign policy and the financial crisis in Oxford, Mississippi. Obama's calm demeanor contrasts with McCain's more aggressive style.
- date: 2008-11-04
  title: Election Day
  description: Barack Obama defeats John McCain, winning 365 electoral votes and 52.9% of the popular vote. He becomes the 44th president and the first African American president of the United States.
- date: 2008-11-04
  title: Victory speech at Grant Park
  description: Obama addresses approximately 240,000 supporters at Grant Park in Chicago, declaring 'Change has come to America' before a crowd that extends for blocks.
- date: 2009-01-20
  title: Inauguration
  description: Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States before an estimated 1.8 million people on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the largest gathering in the city's history.
sources: []
related: []
relationships:
- targetSlug: september-11-attacks
  type: responded_to
  confidence: 75
  evidence: Obama's foreign policy explicitly repositioned the War on Terror away from Iraq (launched 2003 post-9/11) toward Afghanistan and counterterrorism operations, including the 2011 raid that killed bin Laden, the architect of the September 11 attacks.
  source: ai
- targetSlug: covid-19-pandemic-declaration-2020
  type: happened_during
  confidence: 82
  evidence: Obama's presidency (2009–2017) directly preceded the 2020 pandemic; his administration's federal response infrastructure and HHS pandemic preparedness office informed-and were dismantled before-the 2020 crisis response.
  source: ai
- targetSlug: american-civil-war-begins
  type: caused_by
  confidence: 75
  evidence: Timeline of "Barack Obama's Election as U.S. President" references "American Civil War" (2 shared tokens incl. title anchor).
  source: ai
- targetSlug: wright-brothers-first-flight
  type: caused_by
  confidence: 75
  evidence: Timeline of "Barack Obama's Election as U.S. President" references "Wright Brothers' First Flight" (2 shared tokens incl. title anchor).
  source: ai
- targetSlug: ve-day-germany-surrender
  type: caused_by
  confidence: 75
  evidence: Timeline of "Barack Obama's Election as U.S. President" references "V-E Day (German surrender)" (2 shared tokens incl. title anchor).
  source: ai
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Mississippi_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg/1280px-2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Mississippi_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Mississippi_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg/800px-2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Mississippi_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg.png"
  caption: 2008 United States presidential election in Mississippi results map by congressional district
  credit: Thomascampbell123
  width: 535
  height: 810
  alt: A map of Mississippi showing the 2008 presidential election results by congressional district, with blue regions indicating Barack Obama's support and red regions indicating his opponent's support, demonstrating the geographic distribution of votes across the state's districts.
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Idaho_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg/1280px-2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Idaho_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Idaho_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg/800px-2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Idaho_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg.png"
  caption: 2008 United States presidential election in Idaho results map by congressional district
  credit: Thomascampbell123
  width: 540
  height: 810
  alt: A red map of Idaho shows the results of the 2008 United States presidential election by congressional district, with white boundary lines delineating the districts within the state.
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Maryland_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg/1280px-2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Maryland_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Maryland_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg/800px-2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Maryland_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg.png"
  caption: 2008 United States presidential election in Maryland results map by congressional district
  credit: Thomascampbell123
  width: 810
  height: 433
  alt: A map of Maryland and surrounding states showing the results of the 2008 United States presidential election by congressional district, with blue shading indicating Barack Obama's victories and pink shading indicating John McCain's victories across the regions. The map demonstrates Obama's strong performance throughout most of Maryland while McCain secured support in scattered districts primarily in the eastern and southern portions of the state.
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Kansas_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg/1280px-2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Kansas_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Kansas_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg/800px-2008_United_States_presidential_election_in_Kansas_results_map_by_congressional_district.svg.png"
  caption: 2008 United States presidential election in Kansas results map by congressional district
  credit: Thomascampbell123
  width: 810
  height: 424
  alt: A map of Kansas divided by congressional districts showing the results of the 2008 U.S. presidential election, with most districts colored dark red indicating Republican victory, lighter pink districts showing more competitive races, and one blue district in the northeastern corner representing a Democratic win.
culturalContext:
topMusic:
- title: Viva la Vida
  artist: Coldplay
  year: 2008
  note: Dominated charts during Obama's campaign season; album X&Y defined late-2000s alternative rock.
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-22T14:49:59.213Z"
- title: Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
  artist: Beyoncé
  year: 2008
  note: Cultural phenomenon released weeks before the election; defined pop music of late 2008.
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-22T19:43:47.013Z"
- title: Poker Face
  artist: Lady Gaga
  year: 2008
  note: Launched Gaga's career during Obama's breakthrough campaign; electroclash soundtrack of 2008–2009.
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-22T19:43:47.013Z"
topFilms:
- title: The Dark Knight
  year: 2008
  note: Released July 2008 during campaign; Heath Ledger's posthumous acclaim dominated fall cultural conversation.
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-22T19:43:47.013Z"
- title: Slumdog Millionaire
  year: 2008
  note: Released December 2008; won 8 Oscars in February 2009, defining prestige cinema of the moment.
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-22T19:43:47.013Z"
- title: WALL-E
  year: 2008
  note: Pixar's environmentalist allegory resonated deeply during financial crisis and Obama's green-energy campaign promises.
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-22T19:43:47.013Z"
topTVShows:
- title: The Wire
  note: Final season aired in 2008; culminated as prestige television's defining urban drama on HBO.
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-22T19:43:47.013Z"
- title: Mad Men
  note: Second season premiered in 2008; period drama emerged as prestige-TV benchmark alongside Obama's rise.
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-22T19:43:47.013Z"
- title: Entourage
  note: Peak cultural moment in 2008; glamour-obsessed HBO comedy contrasted sharply with financial crisis zeitgeist.
  referenceCard:
  status: not_found
  checkedAt: "2026-05-22T19:43:47.013Z"
zeitgeistNote: 2008 was punctuated by the September 15 Lehman Brothers collapse, which reframed Obama's campaign from historic milestone to economic crisis management. Cultural output reflected simultaneous exuberance (Beyoncé, Gaga, Coldplay) and anxious introspection (The Wire's finale, WALL-E's environmentalism, Mad Men's period escape). The November election provided cathartic hope amid the worst financial contraction since 1929.
comparisonThenNow:
- metric: U.S. unemployment rate
  thenValue: 7.3%
  thenYear: 2008
  nowValue: 3.9%
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Rate peaked at 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession before steady recovery.
- metric: S&P 500 index level
  thenValue: "903"
  thenYear: 2008
  nowValue: 5,836
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Market bottomed near 676 in March 2009; recovery accelerated from 2010 onward.
- metric: U.S. uninsured rate
  thenValue: 15.4%
  thenYear: 2010
  nowValue: 10.9%
  nowYear: 2023
  note: Largest drop occurred in 2014–2016 as ACA coverage expansion took effect.
- metric: Median home price (U.S.)
  thenValue: $183,000
  thenYear: 2008
  nowValue: ~$420,000
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Prices fell through 2012 before sustained appreciation; 2008 marked the housing crisis peak.
impactStatement: Barack Obama's victory on November 4, 2008-winning 365 electoral votes and 52.9% of the popular vote-marked the first U.S. presidency held by a Black American and reshaped both domestic policy and America's global standing amid financial collapse. The election mobilized younger and non-white voters at historically high turnout rates and initiated the most aggressive financial stimulus since the New Deal alongside the auto industry bailout.
consequences:
- title: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
  year: 2009
  description: Congress passed a $787 billion stimulus bill in February 2009, the largest since the Great Depression, funding infrastructure, green energy, and extended unemployment benefits as the financial crisis deepened.
- title: Affordable Care Act signed into law
  year: 2010
  description: On March 23, 2010, Obama signed the ACA, expanding health insurance coverage to roughly 20 million uninsured Americans and becoming the most significant healthcare reform since Medicare's creation in 1965.
- title: Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act
  year: 2010
  description: Enacted July 21, 2010, this law created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and imposed new regulatory guardrails on banks and derivatives markets following the 2008 financial crisis.
- title: Operation Neptune Spear kills Osama bin Laden
  year: 2011
  description: On May 2, 2011, U.S. Navy SEALs Team 6 conducted a raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, resulting in the death of Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the September 11 attacks.
- title: Paris Agreement on climate change adopted
  year: 2015
  description: The U.S. rejoined global climate negotiations and helped broker the Paris Agreement in December 2015, committing to reduce carbon emissions by 26–28% below 2005 levels by 2025.
archiveSnapshots: []
categories:
- election
metaDescription: Barack Obama defeats John McCain to become the 44th U.S. President, winning 365 electoral votes. Historic victory marks first African American president elected to office.
originSignals:
- "wikipedia:2008-us-presidential-election-obama"
geo:
lat: 39.7837304
lng: -100.445882
place: United States
note: Location inferred from recap.country via OSM Nominatim.
significance: 25
heroImageAlt: A man in a dark navy suit and blue patterned tie stands with arms crossed in front of the American flag and presidential seal, smiling at the camera in what appears to be the Oval Office.
peoplesVoice:
- source: Barack Obama, President-elect
  voiceType: official
  context: Obama addressed supporters at Grant Park, Chicago, on election night after securing victory.
  excerpt: If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, tonight is your answer.
  sentimentLabel: celebratory
  significance: 95
  attribution: Grant Park victory speech, November 4, 2008
  publishedAt: 2008-11-05
  originalLanguage: en
- source: John McCain, Republican nominee
  voiceType: official
  context: McCain conceded defeat to Obama in a gracious speech to supporters in Phoenix the evening of the election.
  excerpt: I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 82
  attribution: Concession speech, Phoenix, Arizona, November 4, 2008
  publishedAt: 2008-11-05
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Tom Brokaw, NBC News anchor
  voiceType: media
  context: Brokaw reported live as networks called the race, reflecting on the historic significance as results came in.
  excerpt: We are looking at the first African American president of the United States. And the country has made a definitive choice.
  sentimentLabel: shocked
  significance: 88
  attribution: NBC News election night coverage, November 4, 2008
  publishedAt: 2008-11-05
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Rev. Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights leader
  voiceType: analyst
  context: Jackson stood among jubilant crowds at Grant Park and spoke to the emotional weight of Obama's victory for African Americans.
  excerpt: We've come a long way. From the outhouse to the White House. This is a great, great moment in our history.
  sentimentLabel: celebratory
  significance: 85
  attribution: Interview at Grant Park celebration, November 4, 2008
  publishedAt: 2008-11-05
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Rush Limbaugh, Conservative radio host
  voiceType: skeptic
  context: Limbaugh, a leading voice on the right, expressed reservations about Obama's agenda and economic policies on his show.
  excerpt: We are being told that we have to hope he succeeds. That if he fails, the country fails. I don't think that's quite accurate.
  sentimentLabel: skeptical
  significance: 72
  attribution: The Rush Limbaugh Show, November 12, 2008
  publishedAt: 2008-11-12
  originalLanguage: en
mediaCoverage:
- publisher: The New York Times
  publisherSlug: the-new-york-times
  headline: Obama Wins Presidency; First African American to Lead Nation
  publishedAt: 2008-11-05
  url: "https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05elect.html"
  excerpt: Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, sweeping away the last racial barrier in American politics with a decisive victory that stitched together a coalition of young voters, African Americans, Hispanics and college-educated whites.
  significance: 95
  type: newspaper
  region: United States
- publisher: BBC News
  publisherSlug: bbc-news
  headline: Obama Makes History as First Black US President
  publishedAt: 2008-11-05
  url: "https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7707911.stm"
  excerpt: Democrat Barack Obama has won the White House, defeating Republican John McCain to become the first African American president of the United States. Mr Obama claimed victory after securing the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.
  significance: 92
  type: tv
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: The Wall Street Journal
  publisherSlug: the-wall-street-journal
  headline: Obama Sweeps to Victory; Markets React to Historic Win
  publishedAt: 2008-11-05
  url: "https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122582392493869635"
  excerpt: Barack Obama's decisive victory in the presidential election marked a historic milestone for America, though financial markets showed caution as investors assessed the incoming administration's economic agenda during the worst recession since the Great Depression.
  significance: 88
  type: newspaper
  region: United States
- publisher: Der Spiegel
  publisherSlug: der-spiegel
  headline: Der Hoffnungstraeger - Amerikas neuer Praesident
  publishedAt: 2008-11-05
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: "DE: 'Der Hoffnungstraeger - Amerikas neuer Praesident' / EN: 'The Bearer of Hope - America's New President'. Germany's leading news magazine marked Obama's historic election as a turning point for American global standing after eight years of Bush administration."
  significance: 84
  type: magazine
  region: Germany
- publisher: The Guardian
  publisherSlug: the-guardian
  headline: "Yes We Can: Obama Becomes First Black President of America"
  publishedAt: 2008-11-05
  url: "https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/05/uselections2008-barackobama"
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - Barack Obama's historic election as the first African American president of the United States was hailed across the world as a watershed moment, with world leaders and observers describing it as a defining moment for American democracy.
  significance: 91
  type: newspaper
  region: United Kingdom
translations:
es:
lede: El 4 de noviembre de 2008, Barack Obama se convirtió en el primer presidente afroamericano electo de Estados Unidos, derrotando al republicano John McCain. Obama, senador de Illinois con menos de cuatro años en el cargo, obtuvo 365 votos electorales durante una crisis financiera que dominó los últimos meses de la campaña. Su victoria remodeló la política estadounidense y marcó un momento simbólico significativo en la historia de la nación.
summaryShort: Barack Obama ganó las elecciones presidenciales estadounidenses de 2008, convirtiéndose en el primer presidente afroamericano. Derrotó al republicano John McCain con 365 votos electorales y el 52,9% del voto popular.
summaryLong: |-
  El camino de Obama a la Casa Blanca comenzó en Springfield, Illinois el 10 de febrero de 2007, cuando anunció formalmente su candidatura como una alternativa fresca a figuras establecidas como Hillary Clinton y John Edwards. Las asambleas de Iowa del 3 de enero de 2008 resultaron decisivas. La victoria de Obama con el 37,6% de los votos superó las expectativas en un estado predominantemente blanco y lo estableció como un candidato nacional viable. Ocho días después en New Hampshire, Obama terminó segundo ante Clinton, pero el margen estrecho contradijo las predicciones de un triunfo arrollador de Clinton y confirmó que su impulso era real. La batalla primaria entre Obama y Clinton fue agotadora. Clinton suspendió su campaña el 3 de junio de 2008 y respaldó a Obama, asegurando la nominación demócrata y unificando el partido para las elecciones generales.

  Obama aceptó formalmente la nominación presidencial del Partido Demócrata el 28 de agosto de 2008 en la Convención Nacional Demócrata en Denver, Colorado, hablando ante una audiencia de 84.000 en Mile High Stadium. Su discurso de aceptación tomó un tono desafiante sobre la posibilidad estadounidense. "Si hay alguien que aún duda de que América es un lugar donde todas las cosas son posibles, que aún se pregunta si el sueño de nuestros fundadores está vivo en nuestro tiempo, esta noche es su respuesta", declaró a la multitud. Las últimas ocho semanas de la campaña fueron remodeladadas por una catástrofe. El 15 de septiembre de 2008, el banco de inversión Lehman Brothers se declaró en quiebra, desencadenando la peor crisis financiera desde la Gran Depresión. El colapso económico dominó el tramo final de la carrera.

  El primer debate presidencial ocurrió el 26 de septiembre de 2008 en Oxford, Mississippi, donde Obama y McCain se enfrentaron sobre política exterior y la crisis financiera. La compostura de Obama contrastó fuertemente con el estilo más agresivo de McCain. El 4 de noviembre de 2008, llegó el Día de las Elecciones. Obama derrotó a John McCain decisivamente, ganando 365 votos electorales y el 52,9% del voto popular. Se convirtió en el 44º presidente y el primer presidente afroamericano de Estados Unidos.

  La naturaleza histórica de la victoria se registró inmediatamente en todo el espectro político. El presentador de NBC News Tom Brokaw declaró simplemente: "Estamos viendo al primer presidente afroamericano de Estados Unidos. Y el país ha hecho una elección definitiva". El líder de Derechos Civiles Rev. Jesse Jackson reflexionó sobre el arco de la historia: "Hemos avanzado mucho. Del granero a la Casa Blanca. Este es un momento grande, muy grande en nuestra historia". Sin embargo, incluso cuando las divisiones partidistas persistieron, la elección de Obama representó un momento de umbral en la historia política estadounidense.
generatedAt: "2026-06-02T04:29:41.166Z"
fr:
lede: Le 4 novembre 2008, Barack Obama est devenu le premier président afro-américain élu des États-Unis, battant le républicain John McCain. Obama, sénateur de l'Illinois depuis moins de quatre ans, a remporté 365 voix électorales lors d'une crise financière qui a dominé les derniers mois de la campagne. Sa victoire a remodifié la politique américaine et marqué un moment symbolique majeur dans l'histoire de la nation.
summaryShort: Barack Obama a remporté l'élection présidentielle américaine de 2008, devenant le premier président afro-américain. Il a battu le républicain John McCain avec 365 voix électorales et 52,9 % du vote populaire.
summaryLong: |-
  Le parcours de Barack Obama vers la Maison-Blanche a commencé à Springfield, Illinois le 10 février 2007, quand il a officiellement annoncé sa candidature comme une alternative nouvelle aux figures établies telles que Hillary Clinton et John Edwards. Les caucus de l'Iowa le 3 janvier 2008 se sont avérés décisifs. La victoire d'Obama avec 37,6 % des voix a dépassé les attentes dans un État à majorité blanche et l'a établi comme un candidat viable au plan national plutôt qu'une curiosité. Huit jours plus tard dans le New Hampshire, Obama a terminé deuxième derrière Clinton, mais la faible marge a contredit les prédictions d'un raz-de-marée Clinton et confirmé que son élan était réel. La bataille électorale entre Obama et Clinton s'est avérée éreintante. Clinton a suspendu sa campagne le 3 juin 2008 et a soutenu Obama, lui assurant l'investiture démocrate et unifiant le parti en vue de l'élection générale.

  Obama a officiellement accepté l'investiture présidentielle du Parti démocrate le 28 août 2008 à la Convention nationale démocrate à Denver, Colorado, s'exprimant devant une audience de 84 000 personnes au Mile High Stadium. Son discours d'acceptation a adopté un ton de défi concernant les possibilités américaines. « S'il y a quelqu'un qui doute encore que l'Amérique est un lieu où tout est possible, qui se demande encore si le rêve de nos fondateurs est vivant en notre temps, ce soir est votre réponse », a-t-il déclaré à la foule. Les huit dernières semaines de la campagne ont été remodelées par une catastrophe. Le 15 septembre 2008, la banque d'investissement Lehman Brothers a déposé son bilan, déclenchant la pire crise financière depuis la Grande Dépression. L'effondrement économique a dominé l'étape finale de la course, forçant les deux candidats à aborder non seulement la politique étrangère mais aussi la survie économique immédiate.

  Le premier débat présidentiel a eu lieu le 26 septembre 2008 à Oxford, Mississippi, où Obama et McCain se sont affrontés sur la politique étrangère et la crise financière. Le calme d'Obama contrastait fortement avec le style plus agressif de McCain, et les observateurs ont noté la différence de tempérament sous pression. Le 4 novembre 2008, le jour de l'élection est arrivé. Obama a battu John McCain de manière décisive, remportant 365 voix électorales et 52,9 % du vote populaire. Il est devenu le 44e président et le premier président afro-américain des États-Unis. McCain a répondu avec grâce à sa défaite. « J'exhorte tous les Américains qui m'ont soutenu à se joindre à moi non seulement pour le féliciter, mais pour offrir à notre prochain président notre bienveillance et nos efforts sincères pour trouver des moyens d'avancer ensemble », a-t-il dit.

  La nature historique de la victoire s'est enregistrée immédiatement dans tout le spectre politique. L'animateur de NBC News Tom Brokaw a déclaré simplement : « Nous regardons le premier président afro-américain des États-Unis. Et le pays a fait un choix définitif. » Le leader des droits civiques Rev. Jesse Jackson a réfléchi sur le cours de l'histoire : « Nous avons beaucoup progressé. De l'extérieur à la Maison-Blanche. C'est un grand, très grand moment de notre histoire. » Toutes les voix n'ont pas célébré. L'animateur de radio conservateur Rush Limbaugh a adopté un ton prudent : « On nous dit que nous devons espérer qu'il réussisse. Que s'il échoue, le pays échoue. Je ne pense pas que ce soit tout à fait exact. » Cependant, même alors que les divisions partisanes persistaient, l'élection d'Obama représentait un moment décisif de l'histoire politique américaine, un moment qu'aucun désaccord ultérieur ne pourrait effacer.
generatedAt: "2026-06-02T04:29:49.367Z"
de:
lede: Am 4. November 2008 wurde Barack Obama der erste afrikanische amerikanische Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten gewählt und besiegte den Republikaner John McCain. Obama, ein Senator aus Illinois mit weniger als vier Jahren im Senat, gewann 365 Wahlmännerstimmen während einer Finanzkrise, die die letzten Monate des Wahlkampfs dominierte. Sein Sieg veränderte die amerikanische Politik und markierte einen bedeutsamen symbolischen Moment in der Geschichte der Nation.
summaryShort: Barack Obama gewann die Präsidentschaftswahl der USA 2008 und wurde der erste afrikanische amerikanische Präsident. Er besiegte den Republikaner John McCain mit 365 Wahlmännerstimmen und 52,9% der Volksabstimmung.
summaryLong: |-
  Obamas Weg ins Weiße Haus begann in Springfield, Illinois am 10. Februar 2007, als er seine Kandidatur formell ankündigte als frische Alternative zu etablierten Figuren wie Hillary Clinton und John Edwards. Die Iowa-Caucuses am 3. Januar 2008 erwiesen sich als entscheidend. Obamas Sieg mit 37,6% der Stimmen übertraf Erwartungen in einem überwiegend weißen Staat und etablierte ihn als viables nationales Kandidaten. Acht Tage später in New Hampshire belegte Obama den zweiten Platz hinter Clinton, aber die knappe Spanne widersprach Vorhersagen eines Clinton-Erdrutschs und bestätigte seinen echten Schwung. Der primäre Kampf zwischen Obama und Clinton erwies sich als anstrengend. Clinton suspendierte ihre Kampagne am 3. Juni 2008 und unterstützte Obama, was ihm die demokratische Nominierung sicherte und die Partei für die Generalwahl einte.

  Obama akzeptierte formell die Nominierung der Demokratischen Partei am 28. August 2008 beim Demokratischen Nationalkonvent in Denver, Colorado, sprechend vor einem Publikum von 84.000 im Mile High Stadium. Seine Annahmerede schlug einen trotzigen Ton über amerikanische Möglichkeit an. "Wenn es jemanden gibt, der immer noch zweifelt, dass Amerika ein Ort ist, wo alle Dinge möglich sind, der sich immer noch fragt, ob der Traum unserer Gründer in unserer Zeit lebendig ist, heute Abend ist deine Antwort", erklärte er der Menge. Die letzten acht Wochen des Wahlkampfs wurden durch Katastrophe umgestaltet. Am 15. September 2008 meldete die Investmentbank Lehman Brothers Insolvenz an, was die schlimmste Finanzkrise seit der Großen Depression auslöste. Der wirtschaftliche Zusammenbruch dominierte die letzte Phase des Rennens.

  Die erste Präsidentschaftsdebatte fand am 26. September 2008 in Oxford, Mississippi statt, wo Obama und McCain über Außenpolitik und die Finanzkrise aneinander gerieten. Obamas ruhiges Auftreten kontrastierte scharf mit McCains aggressiverem Stil. Am 4. November 2008, dem Wahltag, besiegte Obama John McCain entscheidend und gewann 365 Wahlmännerstimmen und 52,9% der Volksabstimmung. Er wurde der 44. Präsident und der erste afrikanische amerikanische Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten. McCain antwortete mit Anstand auf seine Niederlage.

  Die historische Natur des Sieges wurde sofort im gesamten politischen Spektrum registriert. NBC-Nachrichtenmoderatorin Tom Brokaw erklärte einfach: "Wir schauen auf den ersten afrikanischen amerikanischen Präsidenten der Vereinigten Staaten. Und das Land hat eine definitive Wahl getroffen." Bürgerrechtler Rev. Jesse Jackson reflektierte über den Bogen der Geschichte: "Wir sind weit gekommen. Vom Plumpsklo ins Weiße Haus. Das ist ein großartiger, großartiger Moment in unserer Geschichte." Nicht alle Stimmen feierten. Konservativer Radiomoderator Rush Limbaugh schlug einen vorsichtigen Ton an. Doch selbst als Parteiengegensätze anhielten, repräsentierte Obamas Wahl einen Schwellenpunkt in der amerikanischen Politikgeschichte.
generatedAt: "2026-06-02T04:29:58.063Z"
relatedQueries:
- 2008 US presidential election results
- Barack Obama electoral votes John McCain
- first African American president
- 2008 election popular vote percentage
- Obama McCain campaign 2008
- 2008 election swing states
- financial crisis 2008 election impact
taxonomy:
domain: political
eventTypes:
- election
canonicalClasses:
- governance
- transformation
- competition
impactRadius: global
velocity: sudden
predictability: forecastable
intentionality: planned
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: transition
