Understanding The Election Of 2008

Understanding The Election Of 2008

If the election of 2008 had been written as a movie script, it could not have been more exciting. We faced the possibility that we would elect the first woman to the presidency, the first African-American to the presidency, or perhaps one of America’s greatest war heroes to the presidency. The nomination battles were thrilling, the personalities were oversized, and just when it couldn’t seem to get any more fascinating, Sen. John McCain chose obscure Alaska  Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate!

In this insightful, nonpartisan multimedia presentation, you will learn about the backgrounds of each of the campaigns and candidates in the election of 2008. You’ll learn the very different election strategies that each pursued. We will look at the role of technology, social media, race, television, and the debates as factors in deciding an election like no other. The election of 2008 provides us a fascinating glimpse into the future of campaigning.  

We’ll see how social media and voter tracking began to replace conventional television advertising as a means of motivating voters.  This effort led to long lines of voters across the country. We’ll also examine how one party began to utilize restrictive voting laws as a desperate means to try and ensure victory through voter suppression.

The career politician and war hero against a candidate with a painfully thin resume; a vice-presidential candidate with a penchant for gaffes versus one seemingly in way over her head.  This presentation on the election of 2008 is not to be missed.