The presidential primaries actually consisted of both primary elections and caucuses , depending upon what the individual state chose . The goal of the process was to elect the majority of the 4,233 delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention , which was held from Sunday , August 25 , through Wednesday , August 28 , 2008 , in Denver , Colorado . To secure the nomination , a candidate needed to receive at least 2,117 votes at the convention — or a simple majority of the 4,233 delegate votes . This total included half-votes from American Samoa , Guam , the United States Virgin Islands , and Democrats Abroad , as well as ' superdelegates ' - party leaders and elected officials who were not chosen through a primary or caucus . The race was further complicated by a controversy over the scheduling of the Michigan and Florida state primaries , which had been scheduled earlier than party rules permitted , affecting the number of delegates that those states sent to the national convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries