Who ran for president against Barack Obama?

In 2008, Mr. Obama's principal opponent was Republican John McCain, a senator from Arizona.

In 2012, President Obama's Republican opponent was former Massachusetts governor and business executive Mitt Romney.

In both elections, Mr. Obama won.

Third party candidates included Chuck Baldwin, Cynthia McKinney, and Bob Barr.

Since Barack Obama first needed to secure the Democratic nomination for president, his first opponent was Hillary Clinton. Once he got the nomination, his Republican opponent was John McCain. Obama defeated McCain and in November 2008, was elected president. In the 2012 election cycle, President Obama's opponent is former Massachusetts governor Willard "Mitt" Romney.