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

Palin's Phone Prank

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Sarah Palin
Nov. 1, 2008

"You know, I look forward to working with you and getting to meet you personally and your beautiful wife. Oh my goodness, you've added a lot of energy to your country with that beautiful family of yours."

—Sarah Palin, speaking to who she thinks is French President Nicolas Sarkozy over the phone. The call was in fact made by well-known Montreal comedy duo Marc-Antoine Audette and Sebastien Trudel known as the Masked Avengers, who are notorious for prank calls to celebrities and heads of state. A Palin aide later brushed off the incident, says Palin was "mildly amused." Obama camp's Robert Gibbs commented on the call saying "I'm glad we check out our calls before we hand the phone to Barack Obama."

— Katie Rooney

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