The American Presidential Election of 2008

The 2008 U.S. presidential election was marked by the end of George W. Bush's unpopular presidency, with the Iraq War and the Great Recession as key issues. The Republican nomination was contested by several candidates, with John McCain emerging as the nominee alongside Sarah Palin. The Democratic race was primarily between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, with Obama securing the nomination and choosing Joe Biden as his running mate. The election focused on themes of change versus experience, with Obama advocating for reforms and McCain emphasizing his experience. Obama effectively used social media, leading to a historic victory as the first African-American president.

What major events negatively impacted George W. Bush's approval ratings during his second term?

• The Iraq War and Hurricane Katrina

• The Gulf War and the Savings and Loan Crisis

• The Vietnam War and Watergate

• The Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis

Who was the surprise choice for John McCain's running mate in the 2008 election?

• Nikki Haley

• Condoleezza Rice

• Sarah Palin

• Carly Fiorina

Which Democratic candidate was the first African-American to win a major party's nomination for president?

• Cory Booker

• Barack Obama

• Al Sharpton

• Jesse Jackson

What was a central theme of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign?

• Security

• Prosperity

• Change

• Experience

Which medium did Barack Obama effectively use during his 2008 campaign?

• Newspapers

• Radio

• Television

• YouTube

What was the voter turnout like in the 2008 U.S. presidential election?

• Lowest since 1980

• Average for the decade

• Lowest since 1992

• Highest since 1968

Which demographic overwhelmingly supported Barack Obama in the 2008 election?

• Voters over 60

• Voters under 35

• Rural voters

• Suburban voters