The 2008 Presidential Campaign: Major Milestones in US History - Essay Example

The voting public became re-engaged with politics and voter turnout soared after decades of apathy. Voting is the ultimate protection that the citizens have for their liberty and freedom. The increase in voter turnout affirmed that Americans care about these basic human rights and dignities.4. The large voter turnout of youth aged 18-29 was a significant milestone because it shows an interest in civic participation by the people that will be tomorrow's leaders. It was the second-largest turnout of this age group in history, only outdone in 1972 when 18-year-olds were first granted the right to vote.5. John McCain's age of 72 years old was the oldest age that anyone had ever run for president.

This milestone helped to dispel any notions that age is equal to diminished capacity. 6. Barak Obama's campaign financing broke new ground as it relied on millions of small donations, rather than a few highly concentrated and wealthy contributors. This spread the responsibility evenly and made the funding of the campaign more democratic.7. Barak Obama's use of technology was a milestone of campaign management that will need to be either copied or improved upon for all future candidates. Obama was able to instantly communicate with his supporters and get instant feedback on the issues.8. Health care finally entered the public discussion during the 2008 campaign, with almost all the candidates offering a program.

The issue was legitimized as a national issue, as there was no longer a question of whether or not it was needed, but the only debate on what it should look like.9. The fact that both candidates were sitting US Senators is both a milestone and a paradox. Never before in history have both candidates come from the Senate and only twice has a Senator been elected president; John F Kennedy and Warren Harding. The paradox is that the Senate's approval ratings are at an all-time low, while 3 of the 4 candidates were Senators. 10. The most important milestone reached in the 2008 Presidential election was the idea that a grassroots movement can win the White House.

Obama gained the Democratic nomination by getting the needed delegate's support through his early grassroots organizations in states that held caucuses. His grassroots movement made it possible to win states that had traditionally voted Republican in the last several elections. This concept proves that people do have a voice when they care to raise it. This is the most fundamental principle in a government that is "of the people, by the people, and for the people" (Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, 1863).