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The Presidential elections in the United States of America is being held on November 4th, 2008. The two major political parties contesting the elections have diametrically opposite views on major issues, both domestic and international. On the world stage, the US is usually regarded as the Big Brother of every nation and its policies affect international events, either positively or otherwise. For this reason, it is being closely watched by a number of nations around the world.

The Presidential elections being held this year holds special significance to both historians and general public as well as the contestants due to the following reasons:

1. This is the first election without incumbents in the primaries since 1928. When a United States President leaves office, his Vice-President is usually considered a leading candidate and likely nominee to succeed him. President George Bush Jr. completes his 2 terms and is not eligible for re-election and his Vice-President Dick Cheney has declared that he will not present himself as a Presidential candidate. This last time such a situation occurred was in 1928 when neither the incumbent President nor his deputy participated in the primaries to get nomination for the top positions.

2. This presidential elections coincides with the 2008 Senate elections, House of Representatives elections and gubernatorial elections as well as many state and local elections. This is a busy year for the political parties, candidates, bureaucracy and the general public.

3. The campaign costs have more than doubled in 8 years. In January 2007, Federal Election Commission Chairman Michael Toner, estimated that the 2008 contest will be a "$1 billion race", and that to be taken seriously, a candidate needed to raise at least $100 million by December 2007.

4. Internet has greatly enhanced the reach of the parties and candidates. In late April 2007, Huffington Post, Yahoo and Slate magazine announced that they would be holding one Democratic and One Republican debate for Presidential hopefuls. Yahoo Answers has become a popular platform for A&A interaction between voters and Presidential candidates. YouTube, MySpace, Facebook are all seeing hectic activity by Presidential candidates.

The US 2008 Presidential elections will decide not only the future of all Americans but affect world politics. Will US forces pull-out of Iraq hastily or plunge it into another military conflict with Iran and North Korea, or, Will Americans heave a sigh of relief at new affordable health care systems and people friendly polices of the new government are million dollar questions - the answers to which will be revealed by results of this billion dollar election.



The author: I love politics. For My Texan Democrat Blog click here. I want to get out there and support the democratic party.

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