On November 4, 2008, Senator Barack Obama was elected as the 44th president of the United States, defeating Senator John McCain. Obama became the first African American to win the presidency, a landmark moment in U.S. political and civil rights history. His campaign emphasized themes of change, economic recovery, and ending the Iraq War, and it made heavy use of online organizing and small-donor fundraising. Voter turnout surged, especially among younger voters and communities of color. Obama’s victory took place amid a severe financial crisis, guaranteeing that economic policy would dominate his early agenda. The election reshaped party coalitions and global perceptions of American politics.
