FEBRUARY1776-2026
FEBRUARY1776-2026
FEBRUARY1776-2026
MERICA
The election of Barack Obama
In 2008, former President Barack Obama made history when
he was the first African American to be elected as the president
of the United States. His inauguration took place on January
20, 2009. He was also the second sitting senator to become
president. The first was John F. Kennedy. The primary election
of 2008 was historic when it came to Democratic candidates.
If Hillary Clinton won, she would become the first female
president. If Obama won, he would become the first African
American president.
Before his presidency, Obama was a first-term U.S. Senator
from Illinois. Obama's slogan, "Yes, we can" was first used when
he ran for Senate in 2003. Despite the fact he claimed he was
not going to run for president, Obama changed his mind on
February 10, 2007, when he officially made the announcement
he was entering the race.
Obama had a strong campaign with solid financial backing.
It exceeded McCain's by hundreds of millions. Obama won
nearly fifty-three percent of the popular vote as opposed to
McCain's almost forty-seven percent. Former President Joe
Biden served as Obama's vice-president for both his terms. The
Democratic turnout was the highest it had been since 1968, as
many red states turned blue.
On September 26, 2008, he and his opposition, Republican
candidate Bob McCain, had a heated debate concerning the
financial crisis and foreign threats. It was their first nationally
televised argument, and two more would follow shortly after.
Moderator Jim Lehrer dove right into the debate when he asked
both candidates what they thought about the government's
proposal to provide 700 million dollars to bail out Wall
Street. Though there was no official winner, Obama's strong
performance allowed many to perceive him as the victor.
With the housing market crisis and the state of the economy,
2008 was a turbulent year for America. Some even compared
it to the stock market crash of 1929 and said our nation was
on the brink of another depression. The government provided
emergency loans to several large American firms. Shortly after,
Congress passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act
of 2008. Its sole purpose was to prevent the collapse of the U.S.
financial system during the mortgage crisis.
Many demanded immediate action and change. Supporters
of Obama felt he could bring about the positive changes our
nation desperately needed. The former president won the
approval of many American voters when he remained calm,
cool, and collected during his debates, as well as his comments
regarding the financial crisis. As his popularity increased, his
campaign became even stronger.
On election day, a large crowd had assembled in Grant Park
in Chicago, Illinois. Over 100,000 people had gathered in front
of a blue stage, several American flags were placed behind the
speaker's lectern. Though the day passed by quickly, the wait
must have seemed like forever while they awaited the voters'
decision about who would become our nation's next president.
A mass celebration ensued once all the votes had been counted
and the results of the election were announced. Obama had
officially become the forty-fourth president of the United States.
The diverse throng of gatherers recited a rousing rendition of
the Pledge of Allegiance.
Hawaii was the last state to be established in 1959; it is also
where Obama was born. Many wanted to deny his presidency
because there was some "controversy" about his birth certificate
and his American citizenship. However, it was nothing but a
conspiracy theory that was debunked years later, after verified
evidence proved it was untrue.
On April 4, 2011, Obama announced his candidacy for
reelection. A little over a year later, the Democrats chose him
as their nominee. The results of the next election were very
close, as Obama was nearly tied with opposing candidate Mitt
Romney. However, Obama was reelected in 2012 and served his
consecutive second term in the White House.
CNHI News Service
Bibliography
Flintoff, Corey. "Obama, McCain Face Off Over Spending And War." NPR. September 27, 2008. Retrieved online October 18, 2025 from: https://www.npr.org/2008/09/27/95059878/obama-mccain-face-
off-over-spending-and-war
Remnick, David. The Bridge: The Life of Barack Obama. New York: Penguin, 2010.
"United States Presidential Election of 2008." Brittanica. (n.d.) Retrieved online October 16, 2025 from: https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-2008
"We've done well without a king for
250 years and do not need another one now.
Vote like our democracy is in danger -- because it is!
From your freedom-loving Garfield County Democrats."
Paid for by Garfield County Democrats
FEBRUARY1776-2026
MERICA
The election of Barack Obama
In 2008, former President Barack Obama made history when
he was the first African American to be elected as the president
of the United States. His inauguration took place on January
20, 2009. He was also the second sitting senator to become
president. The first was John F. Kennedy. The primary election
of 2008 was historic when it came to Democratic candidates.
If Hillary Clinton won, she would become the first female
president. If Obama won, he would become the first African
American president.
Before his presidency, Obama was a first-term U.S. Senator
from Illinois. Obama's slogan, "Yes, we can" was first used when
he ran for Senate in 2003. Despite the fact he claimed he was
not going to run for president, Obama changed his mind on
February 10, 2007, when he officially made the announcement
he was entering the race.
Obama had a strong campaign with solid financial backing.
It exceeded McCain's by hundreds of millions. Obama won
nearly fifty-three percent of the popular vote as opposed to
McCain's almost forty-seven percent. Former President Joe
Biden served as Obama's vice-president for both his terms. The
Democratic turnout was the highest it had been since 1968, as
many red states turned blue.
On September 26, 2008, he and his opposition, Republican
candidate Bob McCain, had a heated debate concerning the
financial crisis and foreign threats. It was their first nationally
televised argument, and two more would follow shortly after.
Moderator Jim Lehrer dove right into the debate when he asked
both candidates what they thought about the government's
proposal to provide 700 million dollars to bail out Wall
Street. Though there was no official winner, Obama's strong
performance allowed many to perceive him as the victor.
With the housing market crisis and the state of the economy,
2008 was a turbulent year for America. Some even compared
it to the stock market crash of 1929 and said our nation was
on the brink of another depression. The government provided
emergency loans to several large American firms. Shortly after,
Congress passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act
of 2008. Its sole purpose was to prevent the collapse of the U.S.
financial system during the mortgage crisis.
Many demanded immediate action and change. Supporters
of Obama felt he could bring about the positive changes our
nation desperately needed. The former president won the
approval of many American voters when he remained calm,
cool, and collected during his debates, as well as his comments
regarding the financial crisis. As his popularity increased, his
campaign became even stronger.
On election day, a large crowd had assembled in Grant Park
in Chicago, Illinois. Over 100,000 people had gathered in front
of a blue stage, several American flags were placed behind the
speaker's lectern. Though the day passed by quickly, the wait
must have seemed like forever while they awaited the voters'
decision about who would become our nation's next president.
A mass celebration ensued once all the votes had been counted
and the results of the election were announced. Obama had
officially become the forty-fourth president of the United States.
The diverse throng of gatherers recited a rousing rendition of
the Pledge of Allegiance.
Hawaii was the last state to be established in 1959; it is also
where Obama was born. Many wanted to deny his presidency
because there was some "controversy" about his birth certificate
and his American citizenship. However, it was nothing but a
conspiracy theory that was debunked years later, after verified
evidence proved it was untrue.
On April 4, 2011, Obama announced his candidacy for
reelection. A little over a year later, the Democrats chose him
as their nominee. The results of the next election were very
close, as Obama was nearly tied with opposing candidate Mitt
Romney. However, Obama was reelected in 2012 and served his
consecutive second term in the White House.
CNHI News Service
Bibliography
Flintoff, Corey. "Obama, McCain Face Off Over Spending And War." NPR. September 27, 2008. Retrieved online October 18, 2025 from: https://www.npr.org/2008/09/27/95059878/obama-mccain-face-
off-over-spending-and-war
Remnick, David. The Bridge: The Life of Barack Obama. New York: Penguin, 2010.
"United States Presidential Election of 2008." Brittanica. (n.d.) Retrieved online October 16, 2025 from: https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-2008
"We've done well without a king for
250 years and do not need another one now.
Vote like our democracy is in danger -- because it is!
From your freedom-loving Garfield County Democrats."
Paid for by Garfield County Democrats
Posted 2 days ago
