The following is a timeline of major events leading up to and immediately following the United States presidential election of 2008. The election was the 56th United States presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008, but its significant events and background date back to about 2002. The Democratic Party nominee, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, defeated the Republican Party's nominee, Senator John McCain of Arizona.
2002
October 2002
2003
November 2003
- November 27 – In an interview with the German magazine Bunte, Hillary Clinton states that she will not be a candidate for the presidency in 2004, and when told that some were disappointed with that decision, replies "I know. Well, perhaps I'll do it next time around." This is interpreted to mean that she will consider a run in the 2008 race, if the 2004 Democratic nominee is unsuccessful.
2004
July 2004
November 2004
- November 2 – President George W. Bush wins re-election defeating Senator John Kerry in the 2004 United States presidential election.
- November 9 – Following John Kerry's loss in the 2004 election, Cameron Kerry, John Kerry's brother and political confidante states in regards to another presidential run "That's conceivable... I don't know why that [last week's loss] should necessarily be it. I think it's too early to assess. But I think that he is going to continue to fight on for the values, ideals, and issues this campaign is about."
2005
February 2005
2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
October 2006
- October 12 – Former Democratic Governor of Virginia Mark Warner states that he will not seek the presidency in 2008.
- October 22 – Despite having stated that "I can unequivocally say I will not be running for national office in four years", Senator Barack Obama of Illinois states in relation to a presidential run "I don't want to be coy about this: given the responses that I've been getting over the last several months, I have thought about the possibility, but I have not thought about it with the seriousness and depth that I think is required ... After November 7, I'll sit down and consider, and if at some point I change my mind, I will make a public announcement and everybody will be able to go at me."
- October 30 – Massachusetts Senator John Kerry makes a "botched joke" about education and the Iraq War, which dominates the news for several days. Republican Representative Duncan Hunter of California announces the formation of an exploratory committee for a presidential run.
November 2006
December 2006
2007
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
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April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
- August 4 â YearlyKos holds its Presidential Leadership Forum, which is attended by seven of the eight Democratic candidates.
- August 5 â A Republican debate is hosted by ABC News in Des Moines, Iowa.
- August 7 â MSNBC and the AFLâÂÂCIO host a Democratic debate over labor issues in Chicago, Illinois.
- August 9 â The Human Rights Campaign sponsors a Democratic forum on LGBT issues in Los Angeles.
- August 11 â The Ames Straw Poll is won by Mitt Romney, with 31.5 percent of the vote. 14,302 ballots are cast.
- August 12 â Tommy Thompson announces that he is dropping out of the race for the Republican nomination due to a poor showing in the Ames Straw Poll.
- August 16 â Mitt Romney wins the Illinois State Fair's Republican straw poll, with 40.5 percent of the vote. 922 votes are cast.
- August 19 â A Democratic debate is hosted by ABC in Des Moines, Iowa.
September 2007
- September 1 â The Texas Republican straw poll is won by Representative Duncan Hunter of California, with 41 percent of the vote.
- September 5 â A New Hampshire Republican debate is sponsored by Fox News.
- September 6 â Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee officially announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination.
- September 9 â Univision broadcasts a Democratic debate held at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.
- September 12 â Yahoo! and The Huffington Post host a Democratic "mashup" debate, allowing viewers to choose which candidates they want to hear from on specific issues.
- September 15 â Activist and diplomat Alan Keyes announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination in a radio interview with Janet Parshall.
- September 17 â A Republican debate is held at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
- September 21 â The Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference is held at the Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, Michigan, featuring the traditional straw poll, which is won by Mitt Romney with 39 percent of the vote.
- September 26 â New England Cable News, NBC News, Dartmouth College and New Hampshire Public Radio host a Democratic debate at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.
- September 27 â The Public Broadcasting Service hosts a Republican debate at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.
- September 28 â Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich tells supporters that if they raise $30 million in a month, he will run for president.
- September 29 â Newt Gingrich announces that he definitely will not run.
October 2007
- October 9 – A Republican debate is held in Dearborn, Michigan. Fred Thompson makes his first debate appearance. The deadline for Michigan presidential primaries passes. Barack Obama, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson and Dennis Kucinich file papers to get their names on the Democratic primary ballot. All 'major' Republicans but Alan Keyes, who begins a petition drive, are on the Republican primary ballot.
- October 12 – Former Republican candidate Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin endorses Rudy Giuliani for president.
- October 16 – Comedian Stephen Colbert announces he is running for president as a favorite son in the South Carolina Democratic and Republican primaries. The Republican Jewish Coalition hosts a Republican debate.
- October 19 – Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas announces that he is dropping out of the race for the Republican nomination.
- October 20 – Orlando, Florida hosts the Values Voter Summit, sponsored by the Family Research Council. A straw poll is held and won by Mitt Romney, with 27.6 percent of the vote. 5,775 votes are cast.
- October 21 – The Florida Republican Party and Fox News Channel co-host a Republican debate in Orlando, Florida.
- October 25 – AARP and Iowa Public Television host a Republican debate in Sioux City, Iowa.
- October 30 – A Democratic debate is hosted by NBC News and MSNBC in Philadelphia.
November 2007
December 2007
2008
January 2008
- January 3 – The Iowa Democratic caucus is won by Barack Obama, while the Republican caucus is won by Mike Huckabee. Christopher Dodd and Joe Biden drop out of the Democratic race.
- January 5 – The Wyoming Republican caucus is won by Mitt Romney. ABC, WMUR-TV and Facebook jointly host a Republican debate at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire.
- January 6 – Fox News Channel hosts a Republican debate in Milford, New Hampshire.
- January 8 – The New Hampshire Democratic primary is won by Hillary Clinton. The Republican primary is won by John McCain. The New Republic publishes an article relating to a selection of newsletters published under the name of Republican candidate Ron Paul. The article describes the newsletters as showing "an obsession with conspiracies, sympathy for the right-wing militia movement, and deeply held bigotry."
- January 10 – Bill Richardson drops out of the Democratic race. Fox News Channel and the South Carolina Republican Party host a Republican debate in South Carolina.
- January 13 – The Green Party holds a debate in San Francisco, featuring Ralph Nader, Cynthia McKinney, Jared Ball, and Kent Mesplay. Ball withdraws from the race and endorses McKinney.
- January 15 – The Michigan Democratic primary is won by Hillary Clinton, though no delegates are awarded. Only Clinton, Dennis Kucinich, Christopher Dodd and Mike Gravel are on the ballot. The Michigan Republican primary is won by Mitt Romney. Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama appear at a Democratic debate in Las Vegas.
- January 19 – The Nevada Democratic caucus is won by Hillary Clinton. The Republican caucus is won by Mitt Romney. The South Carolina Republican primary is won by John McCain. Republican candidate Duncan Hunter ends his campaign.
- January 21 – The Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute hosts a Democratic debate in South Carolina.
- January 22 – Fred Thompson drops out of the Republican race. The Louisiana Republican caucus is won by the "pro-life uncommitted" slate.
- January 24 – A Republican presidential debate is held at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Dennis Kucinich drops out of the Democratic race.
- January 25–February 5 – The Hawaii Republican caucuses are won by John McCain.
- January 26 – The South Carolina Democratic primary is won by Barack Obama.
- January 27 – Caroline and Ted Kennedy endorse Barack Obama.
- January 29 – The Florida Republican primary is won by John McCain. The Democratic primary is won by Hillary Clinton, though no delegates are awarded.
- January 30 – Rudy Giuliani withdraws from the Republican race and endorses John McCain. John Edwards drops out of the Democratic race in New Orleans. Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, John McCain and Mitt Romney appear at a Republican debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
- January 31 – A Democratic debate is held in Los Angeles.
February 2008
- February 2 – The Maine Republican caucus is won by Mitt Romney. MTV and MySpace co-host a debate, which is attended by Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and Republicans Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul.
- February 5 – Twenty-four states and American Samoa hold primaries as a part of Super Tuesday, 2008. Full results:
- The Alabama Democratic primary is won by Barack Obama. The Republican primary is won by Mike Huckabee.
- The Alaska Democratic caucus is won by Barack Obama. The Republican caucus is won by Mike Huckabee.
- The American Samoa Democratic caucus is won by Hillary Clinton.
- The Arizona Democratic primary is won by Hillary Clinton. The Republican primary is won by John McCain.
- The Arkansas Democratic primary is won by Hillary Clinton. The Republican primary is won by Mike Huckabee. The Green primary is won by Cynthia McKinney.
- The California Democratic primary is won by Hillary Clinton. The Republican primary is won by John McCain. The Libertarian primary is won by Christine Smith. The American Independent (the California affiliate of the Constitution Party) primary is won by Don J. Grundmann. The Green and Peace and Freedom primaries are won by Ralph Nader.
- The Colorado Democratic caucus is won by Barack Obama. The Republican caucus is won by Mitt Romney.
- The Connecticut Democratic primary is won by Barack Obama. The Republican primary is won by John McCain.
- The Delaware Democratic primary is won by Barack Obama. The Republican primary is won by John McCain.
- Voting begins in the Democrats Abroad primary.
- The Georgia Democratic primary is won by Barack Obama. The Republican primary is won by Mike Huckabee.
- The Idaho Democratic caucus is won by Barack Obama.
- The Illinois Democratic primary is won by Barack Obama. The Republican primary is won by John McCain. The Green primary is won by Cynthia McKinney.
- The Kansas Democratic caucus is won by Barack Obama.
- The Massachusetts Democratic primary is won by Hillary Clinton. The Republican primary is won by Mitt Romney.
- The Minnesota Democratic caucus is won by Barack Obama. The Republican caucuses are won by Mitt Romney.
- The Missouri Democratic primary is won by Barack Obama. The Republican primary is won by John McCain. The Libertarian primary is won by "uncommitted".
- The Montana Republican caucus is won by Mitt Romney.
- The New Jersey Democratic primary is won by Hillary Clinton. The Republican primary is won by John McCain.
- The New Mexico Democratic caucus is won by Hillary Clinton.
- The New York Democratic primary is won by Hillary Clinton. The Republican primary is won by John McCain.
- The North Dakota Democratic caucus is won by Barack Obama. The Republican caucus is won by Mitt Romney.
- The Oklahoma Democratic primary is won by Hillary Clinton. The Republican primary is won by John McCain.
- The Tennessee Democratic primary is won by Hillary Clinton. The Republican primary is won by Mike Huckabee.
- The Utah Democratic primary is won by Barack Obama. The Republican primary is won by Mitt Romney.
- The West Virginia Republican primary is won by Mike Huckabee.
- February 7 – Mitt Romney suspends his campaign.
- February 9 – The Louisiana Democratic primary, Nebraska Democratic caucuses, Washington Democratic caucuses, and the United States Virgin Islands Democratic territorial convention are won by Barack Obama. The Louisiana Republican primary is won by Mike Huckabee. However, as neither Huckabee nor McCain receive 50 percent of the vote, no delegates are assigned. The Kansas Republican caucus is won by Huckabee. John McCain is announced the winner of the Washington Republican caucus, the result of which is challenged by Mike Huckabee.
- February 10 – Hillary Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle resigns but remains with campaign as senior adviser. Maggie Williams is announced as her successor. The Maine Democratic caucus is won by Barack Obama.
- February 12 – The Washington Republican Party release updated results of the Washington Republican caucus. John McCain remains the winner. Voting ends in the Democrats Abroad primary. Three states hold Democratic and Republican primaries as part of the Potomac primary. The District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia Democratic primaries are won by Barack Obama. The District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia Republican primaries are won by John McCain.
- February 14 – Mitt Romney endorses John McCain for president.
- February 17 – Barack Obama and former candidate John Edwards meet at Edwards's home in North Carolina to discuss the possibility of Edwards endorsing Obama.
- February 19 – The Washington and Wisconsin Republican primaries are won by John McCain. The Wisconsin Democratic primary, Hawaii caucuses and Washington primary are won by Obama. No delegates are at stake in the Washington Democratic primary.
- February 21 – The New York Times and The Washington Post publish articles suggesting that John McCain may have had an improper relationship with lobbyist Vicki Iseman during his 2000 presidential campaign. (See John McCain lobbyist controversy, February 2008.) The Democrats Abroad primary is officially announced as having been won by Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama debate in Austin, Texas.
- February 23 – The American Samoa and Northern Mariana Islands Republican caucuses are won by John McCain.
- February 24 – Ralph Nader announces his independent candidacy. John McCain wins the Puerto Rico Republican caucuses.
- February 26 – Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama debate in Ohio. Former Democratic candidate Christopher Dodd endorses Obama.
- February 28 – Independent candidate Ralph Nader announces that Matt Gonzalez, a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and 2003 mayoral candidate, will be his running mate.
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
- September 1–4 – 2008 Republican National Convention convenes in MinneapolisâÂÂSt. Paul, Minnesota.
- September 2 – Ron Paul holds parallel convention in the same city.
- September 3 – John McCain is officially nominated for president by the Republican Party, winning over 98% of the delegates. Ron Paul received 5 to 29 votes, and Mitt Romney received 2 votes.
- September 4 – Sarah Palin is officially nominated for Vice President by the Republican Party. John McCain accepts the Republican Party nomination in a speech delivered at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.
- September 10 – Former Republican candidate Ron Paul expresses support for Constitution Party nominee Chuck Baldwin, Green Party nominee Cynthia McKinney and independent candidate Ralph Nader in a joint press conference at the National Press Club. The purpose was to outline shared principles of all: non-interventionism, civil liberties, balanced budgets, and uncorrupt monetary policy. Libertarian Party nominee Bob Barr, who was invited by Paul, held a separate conference down the hall, joining in the support of shared principles, but protesting that Paul ought to endorse the Libertarian nominee (Barr himself) specifically. Barr's protest was cited as a reason for not giving him the endorsement; two weeks later, Paul would instead specifically endorse the Constitution Party nominee.
- September 21 – Early voting begins in some states.
- September 24 – John McCain announces he is suspending his campaign to work on the 2008 financial crisis, and says he may not attend the on September 26. The first segment of Sarah Palin's interviews with Katie Couric airs on CBS News. Ron Paul endorses Chuck Baldwin for president.
- September 25 – Barack Obama and John McCain meet with President George W. Bush and congressional leaders to discuss the 2008 financial crisis.
- September 26 – Barack Obama and John McCain appear at the at the University of Mississippi.
October 2008
- October 2 – Joe Biden and Sarah Palin appear at the vice presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis.
- October 7 – Sarah Palin accuses Barack Obama of "palling around with terrorists" in reference to his alleged links with anti-war activist Bill Ayers. John McCain and Barack Obama appear at the at Belmont University, Tennessee.
- October 15 – John McCain and Barack Obama appear at the at Hofstra University, New York.
- October 16 – Barack Obama and John McCain address the traditional Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner.
- October 19 – Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a Republican, endorses Barack Obama.
- October 26 – Constitution Party nominee Chuck Baldwin, Green Party nominee Cynthia McKinney and independent candidate Ralph Nader appear at a debate at Columbia University, New York City. It is covered by C-SPAN.
- October 29 – The Obama campaign airs a 30-minute prime-time television advert on several networks, including a live component at the end of the broadcast.
- October 30 – Former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger, a Republican, attacks Sarah Palin's perceived lack of experience in foreign affairs.
- October 31 – Former White House Chief of Staff Ken Duberstein, a Republican, endorses Barack Obama.
November 2008
December 2008
- December 5 – The Supreme Court of the United States meets to decide whether to rule on President-elect Barack Obama's eligibility to take office.
- December 8 – The Supreme Court declines to rule on President-elect Obama's eligibility to take office.
- December 15 – Each state's presidential electors meet in their respective state capitals and the District of Columbia to officially elect Barack Obama as president and Joe Biden as vice president.
2009
January
Election campaign 2008 candidate participation timeline
Candidate announcement and, if applicable, withdrawal dates are as follows:
See also
References