This election is unique in many ways. This is the first Presidential election since 1928 without a sitting President or Vice President in the running. The candidates come from a range of ethnic and religious backgrounds, and one of the favourites is female, Hilary Clinton. (Obama was born in Kenya, Giuliani is a Roman Catholic and Mitt Romney is a Mormon) No matter who is elected there will be a departure from the polarising Presidency of President Bush. He has created many enemies at home and abroad in his eight controversial years in the White House. This election will be the most expensive in US history according to Federal Election Commission chairman Michael Toner who claims that $1b will be spent and any candidate who wishes to be taken seriously must raise $100m by the end of 2007. Unfortunately finance will play a huge roll in who gets the keys to the big job in Washington on January 20th 2009. It may not neccesarily be the best qualified man or woman who is elected but rather the candidate who can attract the support of big business. Thw whole world will watch with bated breath as the American people embark on a decision that will have repercusions in the four corners of the globe.

Each party nominates one candidate to run for President and one to run for Vice President. These candidates are selected by a series of caucuses and primaries around the country. Th first phase of voting starts in January 2008 when Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina hold caucuses and primaries. There are two other significant dates in early 2008 that will be crucial for the eventual victor. February 5th 2008 sees twenty states holding their primaries. This is just a month before "Super Tuesday" where the majority of states hold polls. If no candidate has been elected at this stage the few remaining states will hold their caucuses and primaries. After the series of caucuses and primaries the two successful candidates will begin campaigning country wide culminating in the election in November 2008.

Willard 'Mitt' Romney former Governor of Massachusetts



Mitt Romney is a former Governor of Massachusetts who made a name for himself as a businessman. Politics is in his blood as his father is former Michigan Governor and Presidenial candidate George Romney.
He shot to prominence when he saved the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah from disaster. The games were put in doubt after it was revealed that the organisers were almost $300m in debt. Romney was brought in to clean up the mess and eventually made a $100m profit for the Olympics. He was praised by President Bush for his actions.
In January 2007 Romney announced he was running for President and set up a fund raising committee. He surprised many people when he announced that the committee had raised $23m in the first three months of 2007, far more than his Republican counterparts. Romney is arguably the least well known of the Republican candidates but will be a tough opponent for McCain and Giuliani.

Rudolph Giuliani of New York



Giuliani made his name as a trial lawyer in New York. He was well known for his tough stance on crime and was responsible for sending many well known Mafia figures to prison.
Giuliani first ran for mayor of New York in 1989. In the mid 60's he had registered as a Democrat and then as an Independent. By the late 1980's he was registered as a Republican. He narrowly lost this election to Democrat David Dinkins.
He defeated Dinkins in the 1993 election and beacme the first Republican Mayor of New York since 1965.
Giuliani served as New York mayor from 1993 until 2001 and is widely regarded as the greatest mayor the city has ever seen. He attempted to run for the Senate in the year 200 but had to pull out as he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The terrorist attacks of 9/11 in New York increased his profile throughout the world and he came to be known as "America's Mayor" in the aftermath of the attacks. He is one of the favourites to succeed George Bush as President.

Senator John McCain of Arizona



If elected John McCain will be the oldest ever President, taking office at the age of 72. Ronald Reagan took office at the tender age of 69. He has dismissed concerns over his age and previous health problems.
McCain is a Vietnam veteran and was held as a prisoner of war for 5 and half years. He was beaten daily by his captors and returned to the States a national hero. His political career began in earnest when he returned from Vietnam. He first served as a Representative for Arizona and eventually as a Senator.
John McCain made a previous run for President in 2000. After gaining initial momentum he lost to George Bush. In the presidential race in 2004 he publicly backed President Bush.
McCain announced he would be running for President again in 2008 on the David Letterman show in February 2007. In recent polls he is trailing Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton by 1%. McCain faces stiff opposition from within the Republican party from former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani.