Sentence Correction (SC) | In no other historical sighting did Halleys comet cause such

Lets bring Obama into the picture instead of Hally, the comet for a moment

Rephrase with C - In no other election did Obama cause such a sensation as (he did) in his presidential race of 2008. (We can omit 'he did' and still convey the same meaning)
Sensation caused by Obama in all the previous elections is compared with sensation caused by Obama in presidential race.)
In no other historical sighting did Halley's comet cause such a worldwide sensation as (it did) in its return of 1910-1911

Rephrase with A - In no other election did Obama cause such a sensation as did his presidential race of 2008. ( Incorrect comparison. Sensation caused by Obama in all the previous elections is compared incorrectly with sensation caused by presidential election. But we should compare sensations caused by Obama in both the cases.)
In no other historical sighting did Halley's comet cause such a worldwide sensation as (did its return in 1910-1911)


B - no need to discuss. Had is not necessary. Changes the meaning.

Rephrase with D - In no other election did Obama cause such a sensation as his presidential race of 2008 did. (again sensation by Obama is compared with sensation caused by presidential election. Same problem as A.
In no other historical sighting did Halley's comet cause such a worldwide sensation as (its return of 1910-1911 did )

Rephrase with E - In no other election did Obama cause such a sensation as his presidential race of 2008. ( Here sentence ends abruptly. Here sensation caused by Obama is compared with presidential race itself.
In no other historical sighting did Halley's comet cause such a worldwide sensation as its return in 1910-1911

Ofcourse we all can come up with explanations once we know OA.
Nice One. +1 to the poster.