The 2008 presidential campaign was grueling and seemingly never-ending, but when it came to a close in the wee hours of Nov. 4, history was made.
President-elect Barack Obama defeated Republican contender John McCain to become the first black man to become U.S. president.
Something about this charismatic 47-year-old senator from Illinois had caught the imagination of the nation. His speeches resonated of change and of making a difference during a year when the nation was reeling from a bad economy and an unpopular war in Iraq.
Needing 270 electoral votes to win the general election, Obama handily won with 364 votes versus McCain's 174. In Florida, he got 27 electoral votes and 51 percent of the vote over McCain's 48 percent.
In Highlands County, McCain had a better showing at the polls.
Despite the opening of an Obama for president campaign headquarters in Sebring, McCain garnered 59 percent of the county vote to Obama's 40 percent.
The Associated Press also chose Obama's election as its top story of the year.
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