2008 Presidential Election (St. Jimmy)

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 Electoral vote
 States carried

 The **2008 Presidential Election** was the 56th quadrennial American presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. The Democratic ticket of Incumbent President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Joe Biden defeated the Republican ticket of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Incumbent Texas Governor Rick Perry.

After defeating the controversial George W. Bush in the 2004 Presidential Election, Carter quickly set out on fixing the wrongs Bush made, and made them right. His popularity soared as Taliban militias were dispatched one by one, and in 2007, the US Army finally killed Osama Bin-Laudin. and by 2011, had established a stable government in Afghanistan. Carter also received high praise for his quick reaction time to Hurricane Katrina and helping both New Orleans and Louisiana rebuild. Carter had helped America reach a very massive height in the 2000's, while countries in Europe struggled throughout a Great Recession.

Carter would face no challengers in the Democratic primaries, as his popularity would blow anyone out of the water. And on the Republican side, while there were many who believed the only way for the GOP to win was nominating Congressman Ron Paul, it was instead former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee who stepped to the plate for the GOP, Huckabee promised extreme political reform, and give America back to God. Huckabee said the rules he would implement when, not if he won the Presidency, would show "How Godless a Nation We Have Become." Many criticized Huckabee's cockiness, especially going against a popular President like Carter.

Some of the main issues that were debated in this election were Carter's moving of troops from Iraq to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, religious extremism, and the economy, both in the U. S. and in Europe.

## Primaries:

### Democratic Primaries:

Carter would face no opposition in the democratic primaries, as even the more conservative members of the party knew they would be wasting their time trying to defeat a popular President like Carter, who was already being considered as one of the better Presidents in American history.

 Jimmy Carter
 Fighting for You

### Republican Primaries:

There were many people saying that the only real candidate that would have a chance at beating Carter was Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who had lost the nomination to George W. Bush in 2004. Paul would run and was considered the wide frontrunner, but in the end he wouldn't be the winner of the nomination, the GOP nominee was former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who ran on a Christian-right campaign, and would receive enough support in the country, and after winning the nomination, Huckabee would declare Texas Governor Rick Perry as his running mate.

 Mike Huckabee
 Returning America to God

## Campaign/Issues Unique to the Election:

### Democratic Campaign:

The Democrats were quick to simply point out of everything good Carter did throughout his Presidency, as he had killed Osama Bin-Ladin, and invented an affordable health care system that was expanding quicker and quicker, as well expanding tons of rights to tons of minorities, which gave him tons of praise, but also tons of criticism from conservatives.

### Republican Campaign:

Huckabee ran on a Christian-right platform, and he was also pretty clear in stating he thought he was going to win, saying when not if he won, he would reverse abortion laws, as well as LGBTQ+ Rights and CarterCare, he said the laws he would pass, would show how "Godless" America had become under Carter's Presidency.

### Withdrawal of troops from Iraq to New Orleans:

After Hurricane Katrina struck the state of Louisiana, Carter was quick to react immediately, reassigning troops to New Orleans to help rescuers. Huckabee was massively critical of Carter's move, saying it gave him an excuse to make partisan effects of ending the Iraq War, and that the troops should be stationed back in Iraq now.

### Religious Extremism:

Huckabee had frequently criticized tons of Carter's moves made to support LGBTQ+ people, sighting his own views of Christianity, saying "A marriage is between a man and a woman, and what Carter is a satanic worship." This would give him criticism from many people, but there were some who agreed, mainly evangelical Christians.

### The Economy:

During this time, a major recession was occurring in Europe, and while they struggled, America was hitting new highs under Carter's Presidency. Huckabee called these "Red Herrings," saying that if Carter was reelected America's situation would become similar to that of Europe's, and that he was the only one who could keep the afloat.

## Results and Aftermath:

Carter would defeat Huckabee in a landslide, flipping Montana, South Dakota, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Texas, West Virginia, Virginia, Colorado, and Arizona.

The first polls closed at 7:00 EST in the states of Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Vermont.

Indiana (11): Carter (D), Flipped

Kentucky (8): Carter (D), Flipped

South Carolina (8): Carter (D), Flipped

Georgia (15): Carter (D), Held

Virginia (13): Carter (D), Flipped

Vermont (3): Carter (D), Held

The second polls closed at 7:30 EST in the states of Ohio, West Virginia, and North Carolina.

Ohio (20): Carter (D), Held

West Virginia (5): Carter (D), Flipped

North Carolina (15): Carter (D), Flipped

The third polls closed at 8:00 EST in the states of Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Illinois, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and the District of Columbia.

Oklahoma (7): Huckabee (R), Held

Florida (27): Carter (D), Held

Alabama (9): Huckabee (R), Held

Tennessee (11): Carter (D), Held

Illinois (21): Carter (D), Held

Maryland (10): Carter (D), Held

Delaware (3): Carter (D), Held

Pennsylvania (21): Carter (D), Held

New Jersey (15): Carter (D), Held

Connecticut (7): Carter (D), Held

Rhode Island (4): Carter (D), Held

Massachusetts (12): Carter (D), Held

New Hampshire (4): Carter (D), Held

Maine (4): Carter (D), Held,

District of Columbia (3): Carter (D), Held

The fourth polls closed at 8:30 EST in the states of Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

Missouri (11): Carter (D), Held

Arkansas (6): Carter (D), Held

Mississippi (6): Huckabee (R), Held

The fifth polls closed at 9:00 EST in the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

Texas (34): Carter (D), Flipped

New Mexico (5): Carter (D), Held

Arizona (10): Carter (D), Flipped

Kansas (6): Huckabee (R), Held

Nebraska (5): Huckabee (R), Held, Except NE-02, Carter (D), Held

Louisiana (9): Carter (D), Flipped

North Dakota (3): Huckabee (R), Held

South Dakota (3): Carter (D), Flipped

Colorado (9): Carter (D), Flipped

Wyoming (3): Huckabee (R), Held

Minnesota (10): Carter (D), Held

Wisconsin (10): Carter (D), Held

Michigan (17): Carter (D), Held

The sixth polls closed at 10:00 EST in the states of Iowa, Montana, Nevada, and Utah.

Iowa (7): Carter (D), Held

Montana (3): Carter (D), Flipped

Nevada (5): Carter (D), Held

Utah (5): Huckabee (R), Held

The seventh polls closed at 11:00 EST in the states of California, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

California (55): Carter (D), Held

Washington (11): Carter (D), Held

Oregon (7): Carter (D), Held

Idaho (4): Huckabee (R), Held

The eighth and final polls closed at 12:00 in the states of Hawaii and Alaska.

Hawaii (4): Carter (D), Held

Alaska (3): Huckabee (R), Held

Carter would officially win re-election after winning the majority of polls that close at 10:00 P.M. EST. Huckabee would refuse to concede defeat, claiming election fraud in the states Carter flipped along with Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, and Georgia, but all of the lawsuits Huckabee made proved defunct. Carter would be re-inaugurated on January 20, 2009.