By Rachel Josue

It was a very exciting 2008 here in the MTV Newsroom. It was a year of triumph and tragedy, a year of secret weddings and pregnancies, a year of overcoming adversity and a year of inspiration and change.

2008 brought us everything from the shocking death of Heath Ledger and the tragedy that befell Jennifer Hudson and her family, to the reinvention of Britney Spears and the successes of “The Dark Knight” and Tha Carter III. Your favorite artists and celebrities eloped (is it legal yet, Speidi?), married overseas (nice tats, Mariah and Nick) and got hitched in secret (thanks for finally admitting to that, Jay and B). They had babies and — in true Hollywood style — named them strange things (I am available to babysit when Bronx befriends Brooklyn and they have a play-date in Manhattan. Just saying.). And, Chinese Democracy actually materialized, to the delight of Dr. Pepper fans.

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FROM MTVNEWS.COM: Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.I.Am celebrated Barack Obama’s victory in the studio, recording his third ode to the now-president-elect.
Will stopped by “Oprah” Friday to debut the new celeb-filled video for the track. He’ll also be posting the clip to the site Dipdive. The video flashes pictures of Obama on election night and crowds celebrating the Illinois senator’s victory, alongside images of historical figures like Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman.

And it wouldn’t be a Will.I.Am video without some celebrity appearances. This time around, he’s rounded up his bandmate Fergie, as well as actors Olivia Wilde, Jonathan Schaech and Kerry Washington.

See the full “It’s A New Day” video at MTVNews.com…

It feels like the day after Christmas, doesn’t it? Except the holiday season only lasts about a month, and this particular election season has dragged on for almost two years.

Back when it started, Democrat Tom Vilsack first filed papers with the FEC — and thus kicked off the race to the White House — Bob Barker was still hosting “The Price Is Right,” CariDee was just about to win “America’s Next Top Model” and America had not yet met Sanjaya.

Crazy, right?

And not only has it been prolonged, but it’s been intense! With a campaign season that had more plot developments than the entire run of “Passions,” it’s hard to remember all the twists and turns the story took. Remember when Rudy Giuliani was considered a front-runner? Or what about when Joe Biden — a then-presidential candidate — got flack for calling Obama “clean?” And there was the Chuck Norris/ Mike Huckabee bromance! Jesse Jackson threatening castration! Hillary threatening scary 3 a.m. phone calls!

Watch Jim’s video recap of the entire election, after the jump!

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FROM YOURHERE.MTV.COM: I wondered if it was the same at the McCain site, but the Obama rally’s press area looked like a United Nations congregation. Everyone in their own languages were talking about the importance of this election. One could sense their excitement about the upcoming event. Folks with huge cameras and tall ladders set up shop, and fought for a spot “against the rail.” It made me feel like maybe they carried with them the same emotion their countries have for Obama–hope and excitement. One of the news crews had a cardboard cutout of Obama, and photographers crowded and took pictures as if that was their best bet of capturing a clear image of the presidential hopeful–just excited to get started with their important jobs of letting the public know what they were seeing, making sure that you too will see what we saw.

One reporter said “if we win tonight” I said “we?” He corrected himself and said “if Obama wins.” I laughed and for a second I felt like we–all of the news crews back there–were all on the same team. They ran to the crowd, back and forth, after every cheer not wanting to miss anything. While I’m sure their quickness helped them capture the news for their employers, I got the feeling that they didn’t want to miss anything because they wanted the night to be a complete “I was there” story to tell their grandchildren.

Continue reading more about the rally on YOURHERE.MTV.COM.

By Liz Nord

New Year’s Eve had nothing on last night’s celebration in Times Square. When Barack Obama was announced as president-elect, thousands of New Yorkers and tourists from all over the world roared with a collective cheer — and the party didn’t stop all night long.

A group of us from the Newsroom stepped out from behind our computers and cameras to join the crowd as the final results were called — a momentary break from a long night of reporting. Illuminated by the enormous electronic billboards and LCD screens displaying the news, cheering people filled Broadway as far as the eye could see. Strangers were embracing, kids were break dancing, and New Yorkers were actually friendly.
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By Todd Brown

While driving through Los Angeles over the past few days, I have noticed that one proposition on the California ballot is getting more attention than any other: Proposition 8, an initiative that would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry. You can’t go more than a mile on the streets of L.A. without seeing a sign for or against the proposition.

(More about Prop 8, after the jump!)
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Welcome to McCain HQ, where denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.

After early bouts of enthusiasm, things have taken on a decidedly somber tone, as McCain’s lead has evaporated and major networks have begun to call must-win states like Pennsylvania and Virginia for Barack Obama.

Of course, you would only know it of you were paying really close attention inside the Frank Lloyd Wright Ballroom, because as soon as states started falling Obama’s way, the two screens flanking the stage were quickly shut off, their live feeds replaced with McCain political commercials.

Soon after, the Phoenix Boys Choir was ushered onstage and, in matching blazers and khakis, they delivered a touching version of “God Bless America.”

Then Arizona Congressman Jeff Flake — looking tanned and strangely chipper — delivered a “rah-rah” speech, as Obama opened up a 62-point lead in the electoral vote count.

Of course, none of that was mentioned by the McCain camp and, after more speechifying, the “official” delegate count was posted inside the house: McCain 21-3. And as McFadden & Whitehead’s “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” blared overhead, one couldn’t help but think that the McCain camp was being a tad bit optimistic.

By most accounts, young voters came out in a big way today.

Now we want to hear from you!

How did it feel to vote? Where are you watching the results? Where will you be when the next president of the United States makes his victory speech?

We want to join your viewing party. We want to share your enthusiasm and disappointment.

Upload your video reaction to this historic day at YouRHere.MTV.com, or leave your comments below. Your message will appear on our election map and could appear on TV!

At roughly 4 p.m., they started arriving. Great masses clad in navy blue suits, American flag ties and sensible formal wear. Overwhelmingly white, older men and women (and their kids), VIP passes in hand, packed into the Frank Lloyd Wright Ballroom at the Arizona Biltmore to watch election results trickle in and (they hope) to cheer John McCain on to victory.

About the same time, polls began to close in parts of Kentucky and Indiana, and early on, these Mac backers had plenty to cheer about: eight electoral votes in the bank, and a tight — but trending positively — race in Indiana.

The ballroom is beginning to hum, and nearby, special VIP VIP parties are beginning to get under way in rooms throughout the Biltmore. People are posing for pictures in front of the Straight Talk Express, snapping up $5 McCain/Palin “Victory” pins and beginning to assault the fully stocked bars. The line of limousines is beginning to overwhelm the valet team. Things are starting to happen. … Finally.

MTV News is at the polls in all 50 states — check out our coverage all day long on MTV and right here on MTVNews.com. Then, tell us why you voted! Comment below, upload video at yourhere.mtv.com, or text VOTE to 66333 with your first name, age, state and a comment about your experience. Your message will appear on our election map and could appear on TV today!

With reporting by Sway Calloway

Don’t expect the major news networks to call tonight’s election too early. They’ve been burned in the past, like in 2004, when early exit-poll numbers leaked, showing eventual loser Senator John Kerry leading eventual winner President George Bush.

That’s why, more than three hours before any polls closed, CNN anchor Don Lemon told MTV News that his network is very cautious when it comes to calling an election. In a word: “Accuracy,” Lemon said. “We want to make sure that we know absolutely sure before we call anything. And we try not to use that [phrase], ‘call anything.’ Most of the time, we project. We all learned our lessons from 2000 and 2004. We have to be absolutely sure.”

(More about how CNN calls an election, after the jump!)
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