Election Day is November 4, 2008, but that is just the end of a year long series of elections and at least two years of campaigning that we use to select our President.

January 3, 2008 is the first election leading toward the November 4 finale. This is the date of the Iowa Caucus. Overall Republicans will select 2,458 delegates, most will be picked based on primary votes and caucuses. Others are state party officials. The candidate with 1,230 votes will become the nominee. Democrats pick a few more delegates but the process and the proportions are the same.

Some of the Critical election dates in the sequence set the tone for the candidates. Peak too soon and you lose momentum, too late and you are already out of the running.

• Starting January 3rd Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Florida will select the first 12% of the delegates. The early states allow candidates to establish their credentials and build momentum
  
• Super Tuesday is Feb 5 on which 21 states will pick 43% of the delegates. Many experts think by the end of Super Tuesday we'll know who will be nominated. Louisiana picks its 43 delegates the Saturday after super Tuesday.
  
• Another 12% will be selected throughout the rest of February by which time a winner will be known or a nasty convention floor fight will be brewing
  
• The remaining 33% will be determined by June 3 with New Mexico selecting their 1.5% of the delegates last.

Given the number of prominent candidates with a solid share of the votes, this year promises to be interesting for the Republicans. Hillary stands of going chance of entering the Democratic convention in solid control. once the votes are in and the convention dates approach, deal will fly.

The Democratic Convention will be held August 25-28 ,2008 in Denver, Colorado.
The Republican Convention is scheduled for September 1-4, 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The general election date is Tuesday November 4, 2008 just 61 days after the nomination