2-+The+Election+of+2008


 * A Fresh New Face**

By the time presidency of George W. Bush came to a close, his approval ratings had dropped to brutal lows and the United States was eager to elect a new man (or woman) who could get the job done. In the primaries, the democratic favorites were Hillary Rodham Clinton, a woman, and Barack Obama, an African-American. These candidates were each the first of their kind; the competition between them was fierce, but Clinton's divisiveness in the polls led to Obama's victory of the democratic party. Obama, being young and African-American, stood out among all of the candidates. He was articulate, and wooed his audiences with promises of positive change in the government. Despite his inexperience, he was able to gather the popularity needed to compete. His campaigning skills gave him an advantage as well. Throughout the course of his presidential campaign, Obama collected 745 million dollars.


 * John McCain**

 On the republican end, John McCain achieved victory without fierce competition in the republican primaries. He appealed to those who preferred a traditional approach to politics. He also criticized Obama for his inexperience. Ultimately, his ideas backfired. The nation grew tired of George W. Bush's politics and many feared that McCain would double as an extension of Bush's presidency. Their policies were strikingly similar.


 * Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States**

Competition between Obama and McCain was fierce. They debated about all kinds of issues, including how to handle the war in the Middle East, how to repair the ailing economy, and how to handle illegal immigration. But ultimately, with 365 electoral votes and 53% of the popular vote, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States and the first African-American in that office.

Here is his inaugural address.

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