U.S. Elections 2008

Clinton Concedes, Encourages Supporters to Back Obama
McCain, Obama focus on how they will “change” the United States

June 9, 2008

By Michelle Austein
Staff Writer

Washington -- New York Senator Hillary Clinton ended her campaign to become the first female U.S. president June 7, saying she fully supports her Democratic opponent Barack Obama.

In a speech in Washington, Clinton thanked her supporters and encouraged them to support Illinois Senator Obama, who has enough delegates to be his party's presumed presidential nominee.

Presidential Campaign Enters New Phase as Primaries End
Obama declares victory; Clinton says she is undecided on future plans

June 4, 2008

By Michelle Austein
Staff Writer

Washington -- As the final Democratic primary voters cast ballots in South Dakota and Montana June 3, Illinois Senator Barack Obama told his supporters that, “because of you,” he is expected to become the first African-American presidential nominee of a major political party.

How Will Candidates Explain Stances on Meeting Hostile Leaders?
Political analysts detail candidates’ likely strategies

June 4, 2008

By Eric Green
Staff Writer

Washington -- Senator John McCain and the man he is expected to face in November for the presidency, Senator Barack Obama, are presenting contrasting philosophies on whether to negotiate with hostile foreign dictators and rogue leaders, with the question becoming which position will be more attractive to American voters, according to a leading political analyst.

Democrats Reach Compromise Plan for Michigan, Florida Delegates
Barack Obama still favored to win nomination despite defeat in Puerto Rico

June 2, 2008

By Michelle Austein
Staff Writer

Washington -- After hours of debate in a Washington hotel May 31, members of the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC’s) bylaws and rules committee approved a plan to give Michigan and Florida’s delegates half a vote each.

Barack Obama Says Democratic Nomination “Within Reach”
Each candidate wins a Democratic primary by a large margin

May 21, 2008

By Michelle Austein
Staff Writer

Washington -- Illinois Senator Barack Obama earned a majority of pledged delegates May 20, but this still leaves him about 370 delegates shy of securing the Democratic nomination.

As polls in recent days indicated, Obama won Oregon’s Democratic primary May 20. With 88 percent of the vote counted in the only U.S. state that conducts all voting by mail, Obama was leading by 16 percentage points. Oregon is a northwest state on the Pacific coast with one of the most liberal populations in the country.

Big Win in North Carolina Expands Obama’s Lead
Each candidate claims a Democratic primary victory May 6

By Michelle Austein
Staff Writer

Washington -- Primary voters in Indiana and North Carolina put Democrat Barack Obama closer to his party’s presidential nomination, despite a loss in the May 6 Indiana primary. With few nominating contests left and Obama’s lead growing, political experts predict it will be difficult for Hillary Clinton to earn the nomination.

In a speech celebrating his victory in the North Carolina Democratic primary, Obama congratulated Clinton “on what appears to be her victory in the great state of Indiana,”

Clinton’s Pennsylvania Win Extends Democrats’ Nomination Race
Both Democratic candidates for U.S. presidency claim successes in primary 

April 23, 2008

By Michelle Austein
Staff Writer

Washington -- After spending more than six weeks crisscrossing Pennsylvania, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama each claimed success in the state’s Democratic primary April 22.

New York Senator Hillary Clinton won the most votes and a majority of Pennsylvania’s 158 pledged delegates, but she still trails Illinois Senator Barack Obama in the overall delegate count.

Delegate System Aims to Give Nominating Power to the People
Rules for selecting delegates vary among states' political parties

March 24, 2008

Washington -- U.S. voters may cast ballots for a presidential nominee in a primary or caucus, but they do not select their parties’ nominees directly. That power is given to delegates -- appointed party representatives -- who cast votes at the national conventions held in the summer before the general election.

The system of appointing delegates to select party nominees is complex and has been revised over decades to ensure fairness.

John McCain Wins Enough Delegates To Become Republican Nominee
Democratic race continues as Clinton wins popular vote in three of four states

05 March 2008

By Michelle Austein
Staff Writer

Washington -- After Americans in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont voted in primaries March 4, Arizona Senator John McCain earned enough delegates to become the presumptive Republican nominee for president.

McCain received the majority of the votes in all four states and now has more than the 1,191 delegates needed to secure the Republican nomination. He does not officially become the party’s nominee until delegates cast their votes at the Republican National Convention in September.

John McCain Wins Enough Delegates To Become Republican Nominee
Democratic race continues as Clinton wins popular vote in three of four states

05 March 2008

By Michelle Austein
Staff Writer

Washington -- After Americans in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont voted in primaries March 4, Arizona Senator John McCain earned enough delegates to become the presumptive Republican nominee for president.

McCain received the majority of the votes in all four states and now has more than the 1,191 delegates needed to secure the Republican nomination. He does not officially become the party’s nominee until delegates cast their votes at the Republican National Convention in September.

With Mitt Romney's Exit, John McCain Presumed Republican Nominee
Republican candidates Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul still in race but far behind

08 February 2008

Washington – Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney ended his more than yearlong quest to become the Republican presidential nominee, clearing the way for Arizona Senator John McCain to claim the party’s nomination.

"I entered this race because I love America," Romney told participants in the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington on February 7. "And because I love America, in this time of war, I feel I have to now stand aside, for our party and for our country."

Democratic Race Could Continue for Weeks or Months, Experts Say
As Republican race nears end, Obama and Clinton remain in tight contest

08 February 2008

Washington -- Although the delegates still are being counted across the country, it is clear that neither Barack Obama nor Hillary Clinton emerged from Super Tuesday as a clear front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Voters showed up in record numbers February 5 and handed important victories to both Illinois Senator Obama and New York Senator Clinton.

Nationwide, Clinton narrowly earned more votes than Obama. But with the numbers so close -- with 14.6 million votes cast nationwide, Clinton earned about 53,000 more than Obama -- the Democrats' Super Tuesday race is being called a virtual tie by political experts.

With Mitt Romney's Exit, John McCain Presumed Republican Nominee
Republican candidates Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul still in race but far behind

February 06, 2008

Washington – Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney ended his more than yearlong quest to become the Republican presidential nominee, clearing the way for Arizona Senator John McCain to claim the party’s nomination.

"I entered this race because I love America," Romney told participants in the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington on February 7. "And because I love America, in this time of war, I feel I have to now stand aside, for our party and for our country."

Presidential Candidates Gear Up for Toughest Challenge Yet
Twenty-four states will hold primaries or caucuses on Tuesday, February 5

February 01, 2008

Washington -- Nearly 80 million registered voters will have the opportunity to cast their vote for a presidential nominee on February 5 -- the most ever on a single day in the history of primaries and caucuses.

With only a few days left to make their case to a diverse set of voters, candidates are crisscrossing the country hoping to pick up enough support to propel them to the nomination.

Traditionally "Super Tuesday" is a title used to describe the day on which the most states hold primaries or caucuses. But the 2008 Super Tuesday is different -- 24 states will hold nominating contests. This is significantly more states holding races on the same day than ever before. So many states are voting that some political pundits have nicknamed the day "Super-Duper Tuesday."

Recent Primaries Narrow Field of Presidential Candidates
John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani drop out after poor showing

January 30, 2008

Washington -- Both Democrats and Republicans are closer to selecting a presidential nominee after primaries in South Carolina and Florida narrowed each contest to two-person races.

Democrat Barack Obama won his party's South Carolina primary in a landslide January 26. Republican John McCain won the Florida Republican primary January 29, defeating Mitt Romney by five percentage points.

The Path to the 2008 Presidential Nomination
John Candidates collect delegates toward their party nominations

January 28, 2008

Washington -- According to the Green Papers, an organization that tracks the awarding of delegates, Arizona Senator John McCain is leading the race for the Republican presidential nomination. McCain got a big boost January 29 from winning the Florida primary.

The Florida Republican Party is one of a few state parties that award all its delegates to the winner, giving McCain 57 delegates to achieve a new total of 98. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is in second place with 59 delegates.

Mitt Romney, John McCain Win Big Republican Races
Clinton beats Obama narrowly in Nevada on Democratic side

January 22, 2008

By Michelle Austein
Staff Writer

Washington -- After a week with three nominating contests spread across the country, Republicans Mitt Romney and John McCain won their party's latest races. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton came off with another narrow victory. Following his second-place finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire, most political experts believed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney needed a win to stay competitive. He earned such a victory in the January 15 Michigan primary. 

Hillary Clinton, John McCain Score Victories in New Hampshire
With different winners in earliest races, neither party has a front-runner

January 9, 2008

Washington -- New Hampshire voters showed up in record numbers and surprised many by casting their ballots for Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain in the first-in-the-nation presidential primary January 8.

Despite nearly every poll predicting a Clinton loss and media reports of her campaign staff in disarray, the New York senator won the Democratic presidential primary by about two percentage points over Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

Mike Huckabee, Barack Obama Win First 2008 Election Races
Voters turn out in record numbers to participate in Iowa caucuses

January 4, 2008

Washington -- Nearly a year after the 2008 U.S. presidential race began, Republican Mike Huckabee and Democrat Barack Obama are the first campaign victors after winning the Iowa caucuses January 3.

In their celebratory speeches, Huckabee and Obama thanked Iowa caucusgoers, who participated in record numbers. Both candidates emphasized their campaign themes of change, and their victories suggest that Americans are looking for a nominee who will bring fresh ideas to the presidency.