2008 United States presidential election in North Carolina facts for kids

The 2008 United States presidential election in North Carolina was a big event on November 4, 2008. It was part of the national election to choose the President of the United States. In North Carolina, Barack Obama won by a very small amount. He was the first Democrat to win North Carolina since Jimmy Carter in 1976. Obama got 49.7% of the votes, and John McCain received 49.38%.

What is a Presidential Election?

A presidential election is how people in the United States choose their leader. Every four years, citizens vote for who they want to be President and Vice President. These elections are held across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The person who wins leads the country for the next four years.

Who Ran in 2008?

In the 2008 election, the main candidates were Barack Obama and John McCain.

• Barack Obama was the candidate for the Democratic Party. He was a Senator from Illinois.
• John McCain was the candidate for the Republican Party. He was a Senator from Arizona.

Both candidates traveled all over the country to share their ideas. They wanted to convince voters to choose them.

The Role of Political Parties

In the United States, there are two main political parties. These are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Each party has different ideas about how the country should be run. Voters often choose candidates from the party that best matches their own beliefs.

North Carolina's Vote in 2008

North Carolina is a state in the southeastern United States. In 2008, many people watched to see how North Carolina would vote. The state had voted for Republican presidential candidates for a long time. The last time a Democrat won North Carolina was in 1976. That year, Jimmy Carter won the state.

A Very Close Race

The election in North Carolina was extremely close. Barack Obama won the state by a tiny margin. He received 49.7% of the votes. John McCain was very close behind with 49.38% of the votes. This difference was less than one percent. This made North Carolina one of the most exciting states to watch in 2008.

Why Was it So Close?

Many things can make an election close. Sometimes, voters have strong feelings for both candidates. Other times, the candidates' ideas are very similar. In 2008, both Obama and McCain worked hard to get votes in North Carolina. The state had a mix of voters with different opinions. This led to the very close result.

The Outcome

Barack Obama's win in North Carolina was a big moment. It showed that the state could vote for a Democratic candidate again. This victory helped him win the national election. He became the 44th President of the United States. The 2008 election was a memorable one for North Carolina.