In the US, the presidential and vice-presidential candidates for a party are announced at the party's respective convention. Both the Democratic and the Republican ones occured in fall of 2008.

each party nominated presidential and vice-presidential candidates

Five parties nominated candidates for the 2008 U.S. Presidential election, the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, the Libertarian Party, the Green Party and the Constitution Party. In addition to their candidates, Ralph Nader ran as an Independent.

Nominated Presidential Candidates:

Barack Obama - Democrat - Current President

Willard "Mitt" Romney - Republican

Gary Johnson - Libertarian

Stewart Alexander - Socialist

Virgil Goode - Constitution Party

Jill Stein - Green Party

**{the communist party has endorsed Barack Obama and won't have a candidate this year}

Candidates running on their own:

*Kathyern Lane - (Republican)

*Andy Martin - (Republican)

*Jimmy McMillan - (Republican)

*Ron Paul - (Republican)

*Stephen Rollins - Independent

*Matt Snyder - (Republican)

*Danny Woodring - Independent

*Vern Wuensche - (Republican)

*Rocky Anderson - Independent Party of Connecticut

*Will Christenson - Constitution Party of Oregon

[*these candidates will not appear on every state's ballot}

Candidates for Vice President:

Joseph Biden - Democrat - Current Vice President

Paul Ryan - Republican