John McCain campaigned in the 58th quadrennial presidential election.
John McCain . He was the Republican nominee for the 2008 U.S. presidential election . He secured the nomination in 2008 after coming back from early reversals , but was defeated by Democratic candidate Barack Obama in the general election , losing by a 365 -- 173 electoral college margin and by 53 -- 46 % in the popular vote . The United States presidential election of 1964 was the 45th quadrennial presidential election . The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election .