Politics moves fast. It’s kinda wild how quickly we forget the people who spent hundreds of millions of dollars just to end up as a footnote in a history book. When we talk about who ran for president in 2008 and 2012, the big names like Barack Obama, John McCain, and Mitt Romney obviously hog the spotlight. But those cycles were messy. They were filled with high-stakes gambles, strange scandals, and a crowded field of hopefuls who thought they had a shot at the Oval Office.
The 2008 Chaos: Open Seats and High Stakes
2008 was special. For the first time since 1952, neither an incumbent president nor a sitting vice president was on the ballot. That meant the floodgates were wide open. On the Democratic side, it was basically a heavyweight bout. You had Hillary Clinton, who everyone thought was the inevitable nominee, and a relatively new Senator from Illinois named Barack Obama.
But they weren't alone. Far from it.
The Democratic primary was actually pretty packed early on. You had Joe Biden—way before he was VP—trying to catch fire. There was John Edwards, the 2004 VP nominee whose campaign eventually imploded under the weight of a massive personal scandal involving an extramarital affair. Bill Richardson brought executive experience as the Governor of New Mexico, and Chris Dodd and Mike Gravel were in the mix too. Even Dennis Kucinich was there, bringing his specific brand of progressive fire to the debates.
The GOP side was just as frantic.
John McCain eventually took the crown, but it wasn't a sure thing. Not even close. Mitt Romney was there, making his first big play for the White House. Mike Huckabee, the former Governor of Arkansas, won the Iowa caucuses and gave the establishment a real scare with his populist, evangelical-focused campaign. Then you had Rudy Giuliani. People forget that "America’s Mayor" was actually leading the national polls for a long time before his "Florida-or-bust" strategy spectacularly failed. Fred Thompson, the actor and Senator, jumped in late to a lot of hype but never really found his footing. Ron Paul was also there, building the libertarian-leaning "Ron Paul Revolution" that would change the party's DNA for years to come.
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The General Election Matchup
By the time the dust settled, it was Obama vs. McCain.
It was a clash of styles. Obama campaigned on "Hope and Change," while McCain leaned into his "Maverick" persona and his experience as a prisoner of war. The game changed forever when McCain picked Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska, as his running mate. It was a "hail mary" pass that initially energized the base but eventually became a lightning rod for criticism. The financial crisis in September 2008 basically sealed the deal. When the economy tanked, the party in power—the Republicans—took the hit. Obama won with 365 electoral votes to McCain's 173.
2012: The Battle to Unseat Obama
Four years later, the vibe was different. Obama was the incumbent, so the Democratic side was quiet. No serious challenger emerged to take him on from within his own party. It was the Republican primary that became a total circus. Seriously. It felt like every week a different person was leading the polls.
If you look at who ran for president in 2008 and 2012, the 2012 Republican roster is a who's who of "what ifs."
The GOP Musical Chairs
Mitt Romney was the frontrunner from day one, but the base didn't really trust him. They kept looking for an "anybody but Romney" candidate.
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- Rick Perry: The Texas Governor entered the race with a huge splash but famously forgot the third government agency he wanted to eliminate during a debate. The "Oops" moment was essentially the end.
- Herman Cain: The former pizza executive had the "9-9-9" tax plan and a ton of charisma. He actually led the polls for a hot second before sexual misconduct allegations derailed him.
- Newt Gingrich: The former Speaker of the House had a massive resurgence, winning South Carolina and promising moon bases, but he couldn't go the distance.
- Rick Santorum: He became the conservative alternative to Romney, winning 11 states and staying in the race much longer than anyone expected.
- Michele Bachmann: She won the Ames Straw Poll in Iowa, which used to be a big deal, but her momentum faded fast once the actual voting started.
- Jon Huntsman: The former Governor of Utah and Ambassador to China tried to run as a moderate, but in a primary, that's a tough sell.
- Ron Paul: He was back again, with an even more organized following than in 2008, consistently pulling in young voters and double-digit percentages.
The Incumbent vs. The Challenger
The general election was a grind. It was Obama vs. Romney.
Romney hammered the President on the slow recovery from the Great Recession. Obama’s team, meanwhile, spent millions defining Romney as a "vulture capitalist" from his days at Bain Capital. The debates were actually substantive, mostly. Remember the "binders full of women" comment? Or Obama’s "the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back" line?
In the end, Obama’s "Blue Wall" in the Midwest held. He won 332 electoral votes to Romney’s 206. It was closer than 2008, but still a decisive victory.
Third Party Candidates You Might Have Missed
While the Democrats and Republicans were sucking up all the oxygen, other people were running too. They never had a chance to win, but they influenced the conversation.
In 2008, Ralph Nader ran again as an independent. Cynthia McKinney ran for the Green Party, and Bob Barr—a former Republican Congressman—ran as a Libertarian.
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In 2012, Gary Johnson made his first big splash as the Libertarian nominee. He was a former Governor of New Mexico and actually pulled about 1% of the popular vote, which was a sign of things to come for the party in 2016. Jill Stein also ran for the Green Party for the first time in 2012.
Why These Races Still Matter Today
Looking back at who ran for president in 2008 and 2012 isn't just a trip down memory lane. These elections set the stage for everything we see now.
Obama’s use of social media and data analytics in 2008 changed how campaigns are run. The GOP’s struggle to find a nominee in 2012 showed the growing rift between the establishment and the grassroots—a rift that eventually led to the 2016 shakeup. You can see the seeds of the modern Tea Party and the progressive "squad" movements in the rhetoric of people like Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich.
It’s also a reminder of how fickle political fame is. Names like John Edwards or Rudy Giuliani were once considered the "sure bets" for the presidency. Now? They’re cautionary tales or footnotes.
Actionable Insights for Political Junkies
If you're trying to understand modern US politics, don't just look at who won. Look at the losers.
- Analyze the "Pivot": Watch how Mitt Romney or Barack Obama changed their tone between the primary and the general election. It’s a masterclass in messaging.
- Study the Maps: Look at the shift in states like Virginia and Colorado between 2004 and 2008. Those cycles were when the "Sun Belt" started becoming competitive for Democrats.
- Follow the Money: These were some of the first elections of the Citizens United era (especially 2012). Notice how Super PACs began to keep "zombie" campaigns alive long after they should have folded.
- Check the Third Parties: If you want to see where the "protest vote" goes, look at the Libertarian and Green Party totals in swing states. They often tell a story of voter dissatisfaction that the two main parties ignore at their peril.
The 2008 and 2012 elections weren't just about the two guys at the top. They were about the dozens of people who thought they could lead the country, the millions of dollars spent on 30-second ads, and a country trying to find its way through a war and a massive economic collapse. Understanding that messy reality is the only way to make sense of where we are now.