2008 United States presidential election in Georgia

2008 United States presidential election in Georgia

The 2008 United States presidential election in Georgia took place on November 4, 2008. Georgia was won by Republican nominee John McCain with a 5. 2% margin of victory. Until 2020, the Peach State had not voted for a Democratic presidential nominee since Bill Clinton narrowly won the state in 1992.

About 2008 United States presidential election in Georgia in brief

Summary 2008 United States presidential election in GeorgiaThe 2008 United States presidential election in Georgia took place on November 4, 2008. Voters chose 15 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. Georgia was won by Republican nominee John McCain with a 5. 2% margin of victory. Until 2020, the Peach State had not voted for a Democratic presidential nominee since Bill Clinton narrowly won the state in 1992. Prior to the election, 15 of 17 news organizations considered this a state McCain would win, or otherwise considered as a red state. With its 15 electoral votes, Georgia was the second-largest prize for McCain in 2008. An ambitious Barack Obama targeted Georgia as potential state he could flip from red to blue, albeit as a relatively long-shot target.

The large African American turnout was widely attributed to the narrow margin by which McCain carried the state. However, Obama was unable to improve his percentage amongst white voters. According to exit polls, 77% of white voters supported the Republican candidate – the same as in 2004. Of the several independent candidates who ran for president in 2008, two of them were Georgia and former Democratic Representative Cynthia McKinney and former Republican U.S. Senator S. Saxby Chambliss. Turnout was lower than the general election and African Americans didn’t turn out as much as they did in November general election. Former President Bill Clinton campaigned on behalf of former Georgia Governor Sarah Palin, who was running for vice presidential nominee.