The Battle for America 2008: The Story of an Extraordinary Election [Hardcover]

Haynes Johnson (Author), Dan Balz (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 4, 2009

The election of 2008 shattered political barriers, illuminated undercurrents of race, gender, and class, and ignited an extraordinary battle among some of the most formidable rivals ever to seek the presidency in Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain. It was an election that played out against a backdrop of war, economic collapse, and deep pessimism about the future. Dan Balz and Haynes Johnson followed this campaign from the candidates’ first forays into Iowa and New Hampshire to the historic night of Obama’s victory celebration. They offer behind-the-scenes details of turning points like the stunning endorsement of Obama by Senator Edward M. Kennedy. They probe the strategic mistakes of the Clinton campaign and the story behind Obama’s breakthrough organization. They cast in new light McCain’s struggle for survival in the Republican primaries, his selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate, and the economic meltdown that ensured Obama’s victory. Exclusive interviews with the candidates and their top strategists produce intimate portraits of Obama, Clinton, and McCain under stress throughout the longest and most expensive presidential campaign in American history. Balz and Johnson also move far off the campaign trail to listen to voters in battleground states express their deep anxieties about the darkening economic climate and the challenges facing the United States. This audiobook is a riveting account of how this election not only marked a new era in American politics but also offered a test of historic proportions at a watershed moment for our nation.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Political reporter Balz and author Johnson (The Age of Anxiety: McCarthyism to Terrorism) have produced an exhaustive yet fascinating review of the 2008 election, from the 2006 contending lineup through the 2009 inauguration, sure to catch the interest of those who follow politics, from Capitol Hill on down. For readers who think the news media's wall-to-wall coverage was plenty, this behind-the-scenes study is a sharp reminder of everything left out in their horse-race reporting: discussion of the issues, citizens' reactions, the real influence of President Bush, and the complex mechanics (strategy, missteps, serendipity) of the campaign trail. Without taking sides, Balz and Johnson review the numerous candidates, and the many topics at play-the Iraq war, the economy, health care and various personal concerns-while extracting cogent lessons from a season that became more an "endurance test" than anything. Addressing perennial flaws of the election process-including the prominence of money, race and gender discrimination, the impact of nonstop media coverage, and the government's role in the outcome-Balz and Johnson also label this past election one "of great consequence and a dramatic turn in direction," and illustrate why.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Kirkus Review
"A superior piece of political reportage and interpretation...Essential for watchers of politics and a model for similar electoral analyses in the future."

Booklist Review
Even readers who followed the election closely will find revelations and new perspectives in this gripping account of a fascinating election season. -- Vanessa Bush

New York Times Review
"Makes for engaging reading--for both politics addicts interested in small new details and the more casual reader interested in a broad, savvy overview of the run-up to a historic election." --Michiko Kakutani, New York Times

Time Magazine Review
"Dan Balz and Haynes Johnson...capture the momentous contest in a polished account refreshingly free of last year's breathless sound bites, pundit insta-reaction or fixation on trifling gaffes...an evenhanded and comprehensive account of the race..." --Randy James

Los Angeles Times Review
"Balz and Johnson's material is rich and built upon extensive firsthand interviews... [filled] with details that range from poignant to chilling." --Art Winslow.

Other Praise:

"The classic political campaign of our time has its classic retelling now in Haynes Johnson's and Dan Balz's Battle for America 2008. In addition to the compelling narrative of the events we remember, they have, through their post-election reporting, solved almost all the mysteries about what was happening behind the scenes in the Obama, Clinton, and McCain camps." --David S. Broder, Washington Post

"Magisterial...Captures the thrill of the campaign and its meaning. Balz and JOhnson are the true heirs to Teddy White..." --George Stephanopoulos. ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos

"It's not often that you take a nonfiction book about politics with you on a summer vacation--unless you're having trouble sleeping. But you should take The Battle for America 2008...It's fast-paced and beach-worthy, as good a page turner as any mystery thriller." --Al Kamen, Washington Post

"...a riveting account, combining big-picture analysis, important revelations and intriguing anecdotes." --Roger Simon, Politico

"...told masterfully and fluidly...by two of the best political journalists of this or any era...stocked with scoops and original insights from an incredible campaign--a must-read for political junkies." --Rick Klein, ABC News

"Buy it. Keep it on your shelf. This is a book you want to keep for awhile and savor." --Chris Matthews, Hardball MSNBC

"Every four years there's one great book written about a presidential campaign. For those of us who grew up with Teddy White, it's always exciting when we find that book. I think this is the one." --Joe Scarborough, "Morning Joe" MSNBC

"...extremely well-reported history of the 2008 presidential campaign...There are plenty of scoops..." --Marc Ambinder, The Atlantic

"Dan Balz and Haynes Johnson report a lot of new behind-the-scenes details, so the story feels fresh. What feels familiar are the problems Sen. Obama faced on the campaign trail, which mirror the ones President Obama faces today in selling health care reform." -- John Dickerson, Slate.com.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult (August 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670021113
• ISBN-13: 978-0670021116
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #492,770 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great encapsulation of the campaign, especially the changes among voters August 8, 2009

By Todd Bartholomew TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Post mortem books on presidential election campaigns are nothing new and there have been many of them, but 2008 was truly one of those landmark campaigns that truly warrants re-examination. The 2008 campaign was remarkable for so many reasons as the candidates competing reflected a growing diversity of voice and highlighted various tensions in American society, particularly when it came to class, gender, ideology, and of course race. It was also one of those rare races where neither the incumbent nor the incumbent vice-president was a candidate; a veritable clean slate for both parties. The campaign was also played out against the backdrop of ongoing wars, a slowing economy and widespread concern over the future direction of the country. And rather than focusing solely on the candidates and what happened Balz and Johnson focus almost as much on what was going on in the minds of voters.

As with most campaign post mortems Balz and Johnson start as the various candidates announce their intention to run quickly, reminding viewers that what turned out did not always seem inevitable or even likely at the time. The Obama candidacy actually started far earlier than perhaps many of us remember and his early performances were staggeringly bad, something the authors capture quite well. At a town hall meeting with union members Senator John Edwards comes out swinging with his proposal health care, only to be one-upped by Senator Hillary Clinton who obviously drew off her in-depth knowledge on the subject. By comparison then-Senator Obama seemed completely out of his league when his turn came and performance was dismal. The Obama machine that would come to dominate later on had not yet gelled, and for a while it looked like it would never get the chance.

Both Balz and Johnson are fantastic at bringing the highs and lows of the campaign trail back to life. Even though you know the inevitable outcomes they still keep the retelling lively and gripping. Balz's insight a the lead political reporter for the Washington Post also gave him greater access to the candidates and provided much of the material here that give you greater insight into their character. But rather than focusing solely on the candidates and what happened "The Battle for America" provides great insight into the minds of the voters and the tectonic shifts occurring in American society, for the 2008 election was as much about the changes the electorate was undergoing as the candidates who were running. "Battle for America" is an excellent lively page-turner that also is more interesting for it's insight into the changing face of America. Well worth the read!

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, Insightful, tells both sides of the story August 6, 2009

By Tax Accountant

Format:Hardcover

It's refreshing to read a historical account that is both authentic and also pleasant to read. I couldn't put this book down! The authors cover the rise and fall of McCain's campaign, the heartbreaking failure of a forthright conservative. They talk about Hillary's equally disastrous campaign, and the frequent missteps of her advisors. It's nice to read a book that really attempts to see the entire process as a whole. In all my years, I cannot remember a more riveting Presidential election.

And of course, they cover the historically and politically significant election of Barack Obama, the nation's first black president. People tend to be pretty opinionated when it comes to their political reading, but I think that this book would be enjoyable to both sides of the aisle because it covers both campaigns pretty equally. It's a great read! I carried it around in my purse for three days until I finished it, so it's a page-turner! Recommended!

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I felt like it was Election Season all over again August 4, 2009

By Jorge Contreras

Format:Hardcover

I walked into Barnes and Noble today expecting to read the book while I finished my coffee. I finished my coffee but I couldn't put the book down. The book brought back all the memories of the 2008 Elections. The book puts you right in the middle of the Democratic Primaries. It brought back the happiness of the Iowa Caucuses and the disappointments of the New Hampshire Primaries(I was a Field Organizer for Barack Obama which explains the disappointment)This was a much better book then Renegade by Richard Wolffe because it goes behind the scenes of all three major candidates campaigns. I would have read the whole book if it wasn't for Barnes and Noble closing. I plan on going back and finishing the last 100 pages tomorrow. I highly recommend this book to anyone who paid attention to the 2008 Elections.