• Democrat Barack Obama was elected 44th President of the United States in the November 4, 2008 election. Obama carried with him a Democratic sweep of both Houses of Congress, although falling short of the 60 Senate seats needed to override a Republican filibuster.RealClearPolitics: Election '08: U.S. Senate Final Results The margin of victory was 53% for Obama to 46% for John McCain, making Obama the first Democratic President-elect since Jimmy Carter to win over 50% of the popular vote.RealClearPolitics: Election '08: Presidential Final Results

• 1. Election day: November 4, 2008
  2. 56th consecutive quadrennial election
  3. Barack Obama won the Presidency by a 7% marginRealClearPolitics: Election '08: Presidential Final Results
  4. Obama earned 364 Electoral votes to John McCain's 173RealClearPolitics: Election '08: Presidential Final Results
  5. Among 33 Senate seats in play, Democrats won at least 18RealClearPolitics: Election '08: U.S. Senate Final Results
  6. Democratic Senate majority rose to 57 seats (including two independents)RealClearPolitics: Election '08: U.S. Senate Final Results
  7. Senate races in both Minnesota and Georgia were too close to call, and are being recountedRealClearPolitics: Election '08: U.S. Senate Final Results
  8. Democrats increased their majority in the House, picking up 19RealClearPolitics: [seatshttp://realclearpolitics.com/epolls/election_2008/house_final_results.html Election '08: U.S. House of Representatives Final Results]

• Major Party Candidates

  • Republican:
    • John McCain (President)
    • Sarah Palin (VP)

  • Democratic:
    • Barack Obama (President)
    • Joe Biden (VP)

• Third Party Candidates

  • Libertarian:
    • Bob Barr (President)
    • Wayne Allyn Root (VP)

  • Green:
    • Cynthia McKinney (President)
    • Rosa Clemente (VP)

  • Constitution:
    • Chuck Baldwin (President)
    • Darrell Castle (VP)

• John McCain Fast Facts

  1. Full name: John Sidney McCain III
  2. Born: August 29, 1936
  3. Birthplace: Panama Canal Zone
  4. Former Vietnam P.O.W.
  5. Named Republican candidate at the 2008 Republican Convention September, 2008
  6. U.S. Senator: January 3, 1987-present
  7. U.S. Congressman: January 3, 1983-January 3, 1987

• Barack Obama Fast Facts

  1. Full name: Barack Hussein Obama II
  2. Born: August 4, 1961
  3. Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii
  4. Illinois senator: 2005 to present
  5. Political party: Democrat
  6. Named Democratic Party candidate at the 2008 Democratic Convention on August 27, 2008
  7. 1983: Graduated from Columbia University
  8. 1991: Graduated from Harvard Law School

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