Nation & World

<< Previous   of   Next >> Associated Press  (click to enlarge) Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., share a laugh at a June campaign event. (click to enlarge) Sarah Palin and her trademark wink   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Losers stand out in '08 financial mess 12/31/08 • Year in Review 12/31/08 • Edmonds' 2008 in review 12/31/08 • Year in review: Reflecting on 2008 12/31/08 • Schools look back on 2008 12/31/08 • Two storms picked as top state '08 stories 12/31/08 • The year 2008 in review 12/31/08 • It wasn't a great year, but it had its moments 12/31/08 • Boeing: Five major stories of 2008 12/30/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Do you have a news tip? newstips@heraldnet.com | 425.339.3400   Published: Thursday, January 1, 2009 Obama's election leads top stories of 2008 By David Crary Associated Press NEW YORK -- The epic election that made Barack Obama the first African-American president was the top news story of 2008 -- followed closely by the economic meltdown that will test his leadership, according to U.S. editors and news directors voting in the Associated Press' annual poll. 1. Presidential election: Obama emerged from Election Night as a decisive victor and a symbol for the world of America's democratic promise. But he reached that point only after a grueling battle with Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic nomination and then an often-nasty showdown with the Republican ticket of Arizona Sen. John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in the run-up to the election. 2. Economic meltdown: The bad news kept coming -- collapses of Wall Street giants; huge stock market losses; plummeting home prices and a surge of foreclosures; desperate times for U.S. automakers. It added up to the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and will cost the federal government well over $1 trillion in various rescue and stimulus packages. 3. Oil prices: The global economic angst produced hyper-volatile energy markets. The price of crude soared as high as $150 a barrel in July before crashing to $33 this month. In the U.S., the average price for a gallon of regular gas peaked at $4.11, then plunged below $1.70. 4. Iraq: The much-debated "surge" of U.S. troops helped reduce violence after more than five years of war, but Iraq is still buffeted daily by bombings, ambushes, kidnappings and political uncertainty. A newly ratified U.S.-Iraqi security agreement sets a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal by 2012. 5. Beijing Olympics: China hosted the Olympics for first time, drawing praise for logistical mastery and condemnation for heavy-handed security measures. The games themselves were rated a success, highlighted by the record-shattering performances of swimmer Michael Phelps and sprinter Usain Bolt. 6. Chinese earthquake: A huge quake in May killed 70,000 people in Sichuan province and left 5 million homeless. Many thousands of children were among the victims -- authorities said about 7,000 classrooms were destroyed in shoddily built schools. 7. Sarah Palin: Few Americans outside Alaska knew much about its governor when McCain picked her as his running mate. That changed rapidly. To her conservative admirers, she was a feisty, refreshing change from most politicians; to her critics, she was in over her head, and worthy of all the lampooning she endured. 8. Mumbai terrorism: Ten attackers allegedly sponsored by a Pakistan-based Islamic group terrorized India's financial capital in November, killing 164 people in coordinated attacks on hotels, markets and a train station. India's perennially uneasy relations with Pakistan were badly strained. 9. Hillary Rodham Clinton: She didn't win, but Clinton came closer than any other woman in U.S. history to becoming a major party's presidential nominee. Her determined primary campaign, waged vigorously even when it seemed a lost cause, inspired millions of women across the country -- and helped persuade Obama to choose her as secretary of state. 10. Russia-Georgia war: The two nations waged a five-day war in August ignited by a Georgian artillery barrage on the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Russia responded with a drive deep into Georgian territory, causing severe economic damage and aggravating already troubled Russia-US relations. Runners-up: Stories that almost made the top 10 included Cyclone Nargis, which killed more than 84,000 people in Myanmar; Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which wreaked deadly damage in the Caribbean and on the U.S. Gulf Coast; and the seesaw fate of same-sex marriage in California, where a court ruling approving it was later overturned by a ballot measure. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Fire destroys Silver Lake landmark 2. Tree clearing, mud slide angers Everett neighbor 3. County tackles bikini barista rules 4. Six people injured in Machias car crash 5. Edmonds councilwoman dies at 59 6. Search for missing hiker called off 7. Later start for school day unlikely in Marysville 8. Extended tax credit should spur home sales 9. Hopes for Snohomish excursion train may hinge on railway purchase 10. Designing a new business 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

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