The Screwups of Campaign '08

Presidential campaigns are so carefully stage-managed that few things are as entertaining as the mistakes politicians make on the trail. Throughout the 2008 race, check out TIME.com's ongoing chronicle of each candidate's gaffes, and then vote on just how big a screwup each one is

Mistakes Were Made

Biden's Palin Demotion

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Joe Biden
Sept. 4, 2008

"I heard a very — by the way I mean this sincerely — a very strong and a very good political speech from a lieutenant governor of Alaska who I think is going to be very formidable."

—Biden, mistakenly calling Alaska Governor Palin the lieutenant governor, while campaigning in Manassas, Virginia.

— Katie Rooney

Next Obama's "Muslim" Mishap