What a year

Published online on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008

As 2008 ends, here's a review of the people and events that made stories we remember.

Presidential race

The top story of 2008 dominates the news. The Internet changes this election, from fundraising and campaigning to videos and political junkies following daily polls.

January. Have we forgotten the primaries? It began with the jockeying for dates: Iowa moves up the date of its caucus. Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee win in Iowa. An emotional Hillary Clinton wins New Hampshire on the Democratic side and John McCain wins the Republican primary.

In February, McCain dominates Super Tuesday (24 states involved in primary elections, including California). Clinton wins big states, but Obama begins strategy of winning smaller primaries and caucuses, solidifying his delegate lead over Clinton.

By March, McCain secures nomination. Obama delivers pivotal speech on race, denouncing remarks by his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.

In March, April and May, Obama sustains lead in razor-close delegate count. Super delegates announce support.

Finally in June, Obama secures Democratic nomination. Fight brews over battleground states -- Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Iowa, New Hampshire. The magic number is 270 electoral votes. Obama picks Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate. In August, McCain shocks many by selecting Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

September. President Bush's approval ratings are at an all-time low. Campaigning begins; McCain-Palin rise in polls and briefly lead Obama-Biden. Lipstick on a pig becomes political issue. By mid-September, the economy dominates the campaign; emergency stimulus package is debated in Washington. McCain temporarily suspends campaign, but attends first debate.

October. Candidates hold series of debates. Palin struggles in media interviews. Economic crisis takes center stage. Obama's grass roots organizing flips red states (Republican) to blue states (Democrat) -- Virginia, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina and Indiana. Joe the Plumber becomes a political celebrity.

In November, Barack Obama wins election in record numbers, 365 electoral votes to McCain's 173. Democrats score major gains in the Senate and House.

In November and December, President-elect Obama assembles administration including Hillary Clinton as secretary of state. A fitting ending to a year of politics.

Disasters

We live with disasters. We pause, shake our heads, trying to understand the grief and pain. Then we hear of another and another; our memories blur.

Tornadoes. In January, caused by record-breaking temperatures, tornadoes strike the Midwest and kill six. February, the South experiences violent tornadoes that kill 55.

Floods and hurricanes. In March, dozens die and hundreds are evacuated during major floods that stretch from Texas to Pennsylvania. Hurricane Gustav forces the entire city of New Orleans to evacuate in September. Two weeks later, Hurricane Ike hits Galveston, Texas, and causes at least 50 deaths, thousands evacuate their homes.

Only major international disasters make our news. In May, a cyclone in Myanmar kills 78,000 people. In August in China, more than 67,000 people die and hundreds of thousands more are injured when a 7.9 magnitude earthquake strikes western China.

California makes the news with more than 2,700 wildfires in June set off by lightening from a massive dry thunderstorm. In August, nine firefighters die when a helicopter crashes and burns in Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Another round of fires burns hills around Los Angeles and Santa Barbara in November.