A Day In History, A Day Away-

This is election eve, and it's incredibly hot. Both candidates are campaigning strategically in crucial swing states. Barack Obama is continuing his campaign despite the recent loss of his grandmother, while John McCain is on a whirlwind tour, addressing the public in seven states within 24 hours, drawing large crowds of voters. The outcome of the election will likely hinge on just four states: Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida. The tension is palpable as we approach the climax of this dramatic election season. Both parties are making grand and confident preparations for their respective celebrations. 

Here are some key facts: The United States presidential election of 2008, scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 2008, will be the 56th consecutive quadrennial presidential election, determining the President and Vice President of the United States. This election is particularly noteworthy because it marks the first time in U.S. history that two sitting senators are running against each other for president. Additionally, it is the first time an African American has been nominated for president by a major party, and both major candidates were born outside the continental United States—Obama in Hawaii and McCain in the Panama Canal Zone. With Sarah Palin as the Republican nominee for vice president, the winning ticket is likely to be historic as neither an African American nor a woman has held either office before. Moreover, John McCain, if elected, would become the oldest first-term president, while the Democratic nominee for vice president, Joe Biden, would be the first Roman Catholic vice president. The election will coincide with the 2008 Senate elections in thirty-three states, House of Representatives elections in all states, gubernatorial elections in eleven states, as well as various state referenda and local elections. The president-elect and vice president-elect are scheduled to be inaugurated on January 20, 2009.