Obama 2008

He will be the first African-American in history to run on a major party ticket. On August 23rd, 2008, it was reported that Joe Biden will be the Vice Presidential nominee.


Chronicle
End of the primaries
Further information: Barack Obama presidential primary campaign, 2008
On June 3, 2008, after the Montana and South Dakota primaries, Barack Obama secured enough delegates to clinch the nomination of the Democratic party for President of the United States. His opponent, Republican John McCain, passed the delegate threshold to become the presumptive nominee of his party on March 4. On June 7, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama's remaining opponent in the quest for the Democratic nomination, conceded defeat at a rally in Washington, D.C. and urged her supporters to back Obama. After a June 26 dinner at which Obama encouraged his fundraisers to donate to Clinton's debt-addled campaign, Obama and Clinton ran their first post-primary event together in Unity, New Hampshire on June 27. Over the first two weeks of July, the campaign ran a heavier schedule of fundraising events, drawing from former donors to Clinton's campaign.
Middle Eastern and European tour
In July 2008 Obama traveled to Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, the West Bank, Israel, Germany, France, and Great Britain.

As of August 2008, some of the most popular choices for VP include, but are not limited to, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Delaware Senator Joe Biden, Indiana Senator Evan Bayh, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Colin Powell, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, and retired General Wesley Clark.
On Thursday, August 21, 2008, Obama announced that he had made a selection for the VP spot, but would not reveal until Saturday, August 23 who it was. Obama's campaign encouraged supporters to sign up for a text messaging system that will alert them the moment he announced his choice.
On Friday, August 22, KMBC News of Kansas City spotted bumper stickers of an Obama/Bayh '08 ticket that were being printed in Lenexa, Kansas.The number of undecided voters has generally been decreasing from an average of about 15% down to an average of about 10% in recent polling.
Ohio
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In Ohio, from February 2008 until mid-April 2008, McCain's held a slight 2% to 3% lead in the polls. From mid-April to mid-July, Obama held a 3% to 4% lead in the polls.

The number of undecided voters has generally been decreasing from an average of about 15% down to an average of about 10% in recent polling.
Michigan
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In Michigan, from February 2008 to mid-May, Obama and McCain were very close in the polls. From mid-May to early July, Obama was ahead by as much as 10%, but Obama's lead has recently decreased to about 3% to 4%.The number of undecided voters has generally been decreasing from an average of about 15% down to an average of about 10% in recent polling.
Virginia
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In Virginia, from February 2008 until mid-May 2008, McCain held a lead in the polls averaging about 6%. During this period, undecided voters made up an average of about 5% to 11% of the total.
Indiana
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In Indiana, from February 2008 until early May 2008, McCain's 9% lead in the polls was reduced to a tie.

The campaign raised only $21.9 million in May, making it one of their weaker months for fundraising, but went on to raise $52 million in June, after Obama had secured the nomination.
On June 19, Obama became the first major-party presidential candidate to turn down public financing since the system was created after the Watergate scandal. Obama was expected to raise $265 million between the time of the announcement and election day. By rejecting the funds in favor of private donations, the campaign set itself in a position to outspend John McCain prior to the election. No third party candidates or Independent candidates have been offered an invitation to debate in any of the debates as Obama and McCain are the only candidates on the ballot in all 50 States and the District of Columbia.The Commission on Presidential Debates has proposed that two of three 90 minute debates be held in an informal, seated, talk show format, while the third would be in a town hall format that allowed both candidates to walk around.
First presidential debate: Friday, September 26, University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi
Second presidential debate: Tuesday, October 7, Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee
Third presidential debate: Wednesday, October 15, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York

Vice Presidential debate
There is one vice presidential debate scheduled between Senator Joseph Biden and the yet to be named Republican Vice Presidential nominee. As with the presidential debates, no third party or independent candidates have been offered an invitation.
Vice presidential debate: Thursday, October 2, Washington University, St.