NBC NATIONAL NEWS — One of the things people will remember about 2012 is that it was an election year; in particular, a presidential election year.

It may be hard to recall now, but debates involving that large field of Republican contenders actually started more than a year ago back in 2011.

It was first a face off of the Republican frontrunners, but soon enough, Mitt Romney scored a decisive victory and focused his attention on President Obama.

Here is a look at this year’s election, from beginning to end.