US elections 2008

Hurricane Gustav means the first day of the Republican convention is scaled back, with Cindy McCain and Laura Bush hosting a fundraiser instead.

Sarah Palin, John McCain's surprise choice for running mate, makes her debut speech and wins over the Republican party faithful.

John McCain delivers his acceptance speech to the national convention, as he becomes the Republican Party's official presidential candidate.

With a $700bn financial rescue under debate in Congress, John McCain announces he is suspending his campaign to return to Washington.

The first presidential debate between the candidates, focusing on foreign policy, goes ahead as planned at the University of Mississippi.

The House of Representatives votes against the $700bn bail-out and Wall Street's shares plunge in their biggest ever points drop for a single day.

Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin fight it out in the vice-presidential debate in Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

The second presidential debate, at Belmont University, Nashville, was a town hall meeting with questions from the audience.

A bipartisan investigation in Alaska says Sarah Palin violated the state's ethics laws in her decision to dismiss the public safety commissioner.

Pick a day to follow the campaign as it unfolded in our daily and weekly election bulletins.