5 Reasons Why the 2008 Election Is Historic

1. Barack Obama is the first African-American ever to be elected president of the United States.

2. Joe Biden is the first Roman Catholic ever to serve as vice president.

3. It is estimated that 136.6 million Americans voted for president this election, up from 122.3 million in 2004. That would give 2008 a 64.1 percent voter turnout rate, the highest since 1908.

4. States achieved record voter turnout numbers of African-Americans and Hispanics. Whites are estimated to have made up 74 percent of the 2008 electorate, down from 81 percent in 2008 because of the increase in black and Hispanic voting. In North Carolina, blacks make up 22 percent of the population, but 31 percent of newly registered voters were black.

5. Obama raised more money in this election than any candidate in history.

Sources: Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, Newsday