The Republic Strikes Back, Volume III

The nomination of Barack Obama for president was the main story in early 2008. Going into the race, Hilary Clinton was the front-runner, but she had hurt herself by voting in favor of the Iraq war. Mr Obama won with organization and strategy. By contrast, the Clinton campaign relied on money and star-power. Globally, the success of the Obama campaign altered America's tarnished reputation. Meanwhile. Ireland got a new Taoiseach, Spain kept its Socialist government, and Paraguay rid itself of the Colorado Party after 61 years of misrule. Pakistan tried to right itself after the killing of Benazir Bhutto, and the Taliban almost assassinated Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai. Yet looming ahead was the financial tsunami that would result in the worst economic disaster since the 1930s.