<P> The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election . It was held on Tuesday , November 4 , 2008 . The Democratic ticket of Barack Obama , a Senator from Illinois , and Joe Biden , a long - time Senator from Delaware , defeated the Republican ticket of Senator John McCain of Arizona and Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska . Obama became the first African American ever to be elected as president . </P>
<P> The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election . It was held on Tuesday , November 4 , 2008 . The Democratic ticket of Barack Obama , a Senator from Illinois , and Joe Biden , a long - time Senator from Delaware , defeated the Republican ticket of Senator John McCain of Arizona and Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska . Obama became the first African American ever to be elected as president . </P>
who ran against obama in his first election
who ran against obama in his first election
John McCain
John McCain