If Barack Obama wins , he will be the first African - American president . Warren G. Harding ( 1920 ) and John F. Kennedy ( 1960 ) . If Obama wins , Sarah Palin will be the nation 's first female vice president . 21 of the 43 presidents have been Republicans ; 14 have been Democrats . The most states ever won by a presidential candidate is 49 .
If Barack Obama wins , he will be the first African - American president . If Obama wins , Sarah Palin will be the nation 's first female vice president . 21 of the 43 presidents have been Republicans ; 14 have been Democrats . The most states ever won by a presidential candidate is 49 .