American History 1970s-Early 2000s

The Modern United States ~ Lesson 13 Hillary Clinton vs. Barack Obama for President

Barack Obama

Hillary Clinton

The Presidential election campaign of 2008 was a first for equal rights. Former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton expressed an interest in the election. No woman had ever won the nomination of a major party in a U.S. presidential election. On January 20, 2007 she formed an exploratory committee and filed with the Federal Election Commission. For several months Clinton led opinion polls among Democratic candidates. Then Senator Barack Obama pulled even with her. On the final day of the primaries on June 3, 2008 Obama had gained enough votes to become the presumptive nominee, a political candidate who is assured of his or her party's nomination, but has not yet been formally nominated. Clinton halted her campaign on June 7, 2008 and endorsed Barack Obama. Barack Obama was elected the first African American President of the United States.

Obama

Some of Obama's accomplishments include:

  • Iraq and Afghanistan Wars

    Iraqi War - The war ended in Iraq with withdrawal of military personnel in December 2011

    Afghanistan War - U.S. Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan on May 2, 2011. The Taliban has not stopped their bombing and shooting attacks in Afghanistan.

  • U.S. Economy

Obama has increased taxes to get the economy moving

  • Health Care Reform

Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law in 2010. This law is intended to help poor people to be able to afford health insurance.

  • Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

On April 20, 2010 an oil rig caused a giant oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. With the worst environmental disaster ever on his shoulders, Obama vowed to do whatever it takes to clean up the mess.

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