Overview/Economy

• When did Obama win the election?

  At 11pm on the 4th November 2008 when McCain conceded
• What percentage of the vote was won by Obama?

  52.86%
• What percentage of the vote was polled by McCain?

  45.60%
• What occurred after TV debates?

  Most viewers judged Obama to be the clear winner as he was calm and collected
• What was the lack of Republican support seen as a result of?

  The 'Bush Effect'
• What was Bush' approval rating?

  Only 22%, the lowest since polls began
• What did most Americans believe was the biggest issue in 2007?

  The war in Iraq
• What did many pollers believe?

  That the Democrats had no plan to resolve the issue (57%)
• What was said to have killed McCain's campaign?

  The 2008 economic crisis
• How many seats had the Republican lost in Mid-terms?

  They lost 100 seats in New Hampshire (McCain's favourite state)
• What was a large bank which went into disrepair after the 2008 financial crisis?

  Lehman Brothers
• What did Lehman brothers do?

  They declared bankruptcy and triggered a near collapse of the financial sector
• What was the financial crisis blamed on?

  The Republican's regulation policies
• How much did unemployment rates rise by?

  10% in 2008 alone
• What other company was saved by the government?

  IAG which got $85 billion of federal loans to keep it afloat
• What happened after the financial crisis?

  McCain previously led polls but after the collapse of the LB he never led again
• Who was Obama's running mate?

  Joe Biden
• How did Biden boost Obama's campaign?

  It countered criticism of Obama as inexperienced
• Who was McCain's running mate?

  Sarah Palin
• Who was Sarah Palin?

  She was Governor of Alaska from 2006 to 2009
• What did Palin allow for?

  A younger political figure in comparison to McCain
• When did Gallup surveys begin?

  1936
• What was a main issue people were voting on?

  For mainly white, blue-collar voters the economy was the issue they were voting on
• Who was Palin meant to appeal to?

  Former Clinton voters such as blue-collar workers who found Clinton more appealing in primaries
• How did Palin fail to carry out her desired role?

  Her lack of knowledge in one-on-one interviews proved fatal to the campaign and failed to convince voters
• Why was McCain weak on the issue of economy?

  He was contradictory, in one day stating the fundamentals of the economy were 'sound' but also that the US was in crisis
• Why did Obama's campaign allow for him to reach more voters?

  His debate performances focused directly on the middle-class who had initial doubts on his ability to lead
• What did Obama use the economic crisis for?

  He used it to criticise Bush and the Republican party
• What stance did Obama take up for the 2008 election?

  He changed his stance on gay marriage to appeal to the liberal left and younger voters