US ELECTION TIMELINE:-February 10, 2007 - Senator Barack Obama officially announces his candidacy going up against other democratic hopefuls including Hillary Clinton and John Edwards.

US ELECTION TIMELINE:-

February 10, 2007 - Senator Barack Obama officially announces his candidacy going up against other democratic hopefuls including Hillary Clinton and John Edwards.

February 28, 2007 - John McCain states he's going to formally announce his candidacy in April pitting himself against former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, among others.

Jan 3, 2008 - Barack Obama wins the Iowa Caucuses, defeating Democrat front-runner Hillary Clinton.

March 4 - John McCain clinches the Republican nomination by winning primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont.

June 4 - Barack Obama declares himself the Democratic nominee for president of the United States after projections show he has clinched enough delegates to secure the nomination.

Aug 28 - Barack Obama formally accepts the Democratic nomination before a crowd of around 75,000 people at the party's national convention in Denver.

In an address he promises to keep alive the American dream of opportunity for all, and tells the audience: "America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this."

September 1 - John McCain makes the surprise announcement that Sarah Palin will be his running mate

Nov 4 - Election day, Obama wins a landslide.