The top ten political scoops of 2008 revealed

Washington, Dec 27 (ANI): From Sarah Palin's shopping bills to John Edwards' 'extra-marital' affair, the 2008 US presidential campaign was full of political scoops.

The biggest names, including US President-elect Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, all were at the centre of controversy, giving enough material for newspaper headlines all through the year.

And now, Politico.com has released its list of the top ten political scoops of 2008, which is:

1. Couric and Palin (CBS News): CBS anchor Katie Couric's interview with Sarah Palin turned out to be quite tough for the now-defeated vice presidential candidate, who couldn't answer simple questions as what newspapers and magazines she regularly read. And her stumbling responses were spoofed verbatim by her comedic doppelganger, Tina Fey.

2. McCain's houses (Politico): In an interview with Politico's Mike Allen and Jonathan Martin in August, John McCain failed to answer one question that grabbed the headlines - how many houses he owned. Democrats grabbed the golden chance and donned buttons at the Denver Democratic convention reading: "Ask me how many houses I own."

3. Obama on "bitter" small-town Americans (Huffington Post): Obama's worst verbal misstep was caught by citizen journalist Mayhill Fowler-At a San Francisco fundraiser, Obama talked about small-town voters who "get bitter" and "cling to guns or religion."

4. Palin's shopping spree (Politico): Palin's image was questioned when Politico's Jeanne Cummings reported that the Republican National Committee had shelled out USD150,000 to upgrade her and her family's wardrobe.

5. Clinton camp turmoil (Washington Post and The Atlantic): Within just two of Hillary Rodham Clinton chalking up wins in Ohio and Texas, Washington Post's Peter Baker and Anne Kornblut revealed bitter squabbling among her top advisers, including Harold Ickes and Mark Penn.

6) Jeremiah Wright tapes (ABC News): The fiery sermons by Obama's pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, first aired by ABC's Brian Ross, became YouTube staples, including his "God Damn America!" outbursts and his post-9/11 comments about how "America's chickens are coming home to roost." And then, Obama was forced to give a major speech on the subject.

7) Network TV's military analysts (New York Times): David Barstow from NYT exhaustively reported on lucrative ties between TV's military analysts, the Pentagon and lobbying firms. Last month, in a story headlined "One Man's Military-Industrial-Media Complex," Barstow followed up with a lengthy look at NBC analyst and retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey, who's profited from deals with private military contractors.

8) McCain's inner circle (New York Times Magazine): In "The Making (and Remaking) of John McCain," Robert Draper used his extraordinary access to provide both a tick-tock of events and overall portrait of a campaign struggling relentlessly, and often fruitlessly, to craft an effective message against Obama.

9) Edwards' extramarital affair (National Enquirer): Although National Enquirer's reports on John Edwards' affair were initially ignored, but the constant digging by tabloids succeeded in a July stakeout of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles - where Edwards met with the woman - and Edwards' subsequent admission of an affair in an interview with ABC's Bob Woodruff.

10) Powell's endorsement (NBC): With the campaign winding down, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, whose support would benefit either candidate, told Tom Brokaw on Oct. 19 that was he was bucking the Republican Party and backing Obama. (ANI)