The Year of Obama: How Barack Obama Won the White House

Larry J. Sabato (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Best-selling author Larry J. Sabato once again brings together the nation's most perceptive analysts and shrewdest observers of American politics to analyze our most recent election: the historic election of Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States. This revealing new book by Larry Sabato and his team of experts contains exciting coverage and trenchant commentary on the most stunning election of our time. Peeling back the layers of the political, social, and demographic trends that helped thrust Barack Obama into the Oval Office, the authors of this book toss aside conventional wisdom about 2008 and substitute thoughtful, deeper - and until now, ignored - interpretations of the events and environment that elected our new president. Features - Includes contributed chapters from some of the foremost analysts and scholars who had a front row seat for the campaigns and election, including Justin Sizemore, Rhodes Cook, Alan Abramowitz, Bruce Larson, Michael Toner, Diana Owen, Jeff Gulati, Michael Cornfield, Alex Theodoridis, and Susan MacManus. Each author presents different perspectives on the results, and the resulting mosaic gives readers a comprehensive outlook on the election. - Provides complete and engaging analysis of the most important issues and events leading to Barack Obama's election, including the political environment for Republicans, the impact of federal election law, state and party rules, the conventions, the impact of "traditional" and "new" media, and the use of new technologies. The authors avoid trendy, tired, and overused political commentary and instead focus on pragmatic research and analysis with practical applications for the reader. - Features original chapters written by Larry Sabato, a nationally renowned election scholar and commentator. - Connects the reader with additional sources of information and opinion beyond the content of the book. - Offers as much for the classroom as it does for the casual reader. Table of Contents Introduction Larry Sabato 1. Conventions: The Significance of an American Institution Justin Sizemore 2. The Election of Our Lifetime Larry Sabato 3. From Republican Lock to Republican Lockout Rhodes Cook 4. How Obama Won and What It Means Alan Abramowitz 5. The Congressional and Gubernatorial Candidates Bruce Larson 6. The Impact of Federal Election Law in 2008 Michael Toner 7. Media in the 2008 Election: 21st Century Campaign Diana Owen 8. The New Media Environment and the 2008 Election Jeff Gulati 9. New Technology and the 2008 Election Michael Cornfield 10. Did the Rules Decide? Alex Theodoridis Conclusion Susan MacManus About the Author Larry J. Sabato is the founder and director of the Center for Politics and the Robert Kent Gooch professor of Politics at the University of Virginia. He is the author of more than twenty books including Feeding Frenzy: Attack Journalism & American Politics, The Sixth Year Itch: The Rise and Fall of the George W. Bush Presidency, and A More Perfect Constitution: 23 Proposals to Revitalize our Constitution and Make America A Fairer Country.

From the Back Cover

Best-selling author Larry J. Sabato once again brings together the nation's most perceptive analysts and shrewdest observers of American politics to analyze our most recent election:  the historic election of Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States.

 

This revealing new book by Larry Sabato and his team of experts contains exciting coverage and trenchant commentary on the most stunning election of our time.  Peeling back the layers of the political, social, and demographic trends that helped thrust Barack Obama into the Oval Office, the authors of this book toss aside conventional wisdom about 2008 and substitute thoughtful, deeper - and until now, ignored - interpretations of the events and environment that elected our new president.

 

 

Features

- Includes contributed chapters from some of the foremost analysts and scholars who had a front row seat for the campaigns and election, including Justin Sizemore, Rhodes Cook, Alan Abramowitz, Bruce Larson, Michael Toner, Diana Owen, Jeff Gulati, Michael Cornfield, Alex Theodoridis, and Susan MacManus.  Each author presents different perspectives on the results, and the resulting mosaic gives readers a comprehensive outlook on the election.

 

- Provides complete and engaging analysis of the most important issues and events leading to Barack Obama's election, including the political environment for Republicans, the impact of federal election law, state and party rules, the conventions, the impact of "traditional" and "new" media, and the use of new technologies.  The authors avoid trendy, tired, and overused political commentary and instead focus on pragmatic research and analysis with practical applications for the reader.

 

- Features original chapters written by Larry Sabato, a nationally renowned election scholar and commentator.

 

- Connects the reader with additional sources of information and opinion beyond the content of the book.

 

- Offers as much for the classroom as it does for the casual reader.

 

Table of Contents

Introduction

          Larry Sabato

1. Conventions: The Significance of an American Institution

        Justin Sizemore

2. The Election of Our Lifetime

          Larry Sabato

3. From Republican Lock to Republican Lockout

           Rhodes Cook

4. How Obama Won and What It Means

          Alan Abramowitz

5. The Congressional and Gubernatorial Candidates

          Bruce Larson

6. The Impact of Federal Election Law in 2008

          Michael Toner

7. Media in the 2008 Election:  21st Century Campaign

          Diana Owen

8. The New Media Environment and the 2008 Election

          Jeff Gulati

9. New Technology and the 2008 Election

          Michael Cornfield

10. Did the Rules Decide?

         Alex Theodoridis

Conclusion

          Susan MacManus

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Longman; 1 edition (April 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0205650449
• ISBN-13: 978-0205650446
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,024 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good read for anyone with an interest in politics, demographic trends, or Obama, April 22, 2009

By	Tyler - See all my reviews

I just finished reading this book and it was very good. I liked the clear and concise writing style, which I think is much-needed for political writing. The book offers some deep insights into Obama's win, many of which I probably would have simply passed over. The various authors are also very thorough and deliberate in their analysis. Overall, I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the historic 2008 election.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Academic look back at the election, April 30, 2009

By	L. Keller - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Each chapter in this book takes up a different aspect of Obama's election and why it occurred. It is full of useful information and analysis for students and politics junkies while remaining readable and interesting enough for all. Recommended for people who wish to revisit the events of 2008 or to learn more about American electoral politics.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sabato hits homerun with "Year of Obama", May 6, 2009

By	Tracey Ernst (Annapolis, MD USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is by far the most thoughtful political book about Obama's meteoric rise to power. The work includes entries from some of the best minds in electoral politics (rising stars and established scholars). It is a must read for thoughtful people who want to understand how Obama pulled off his unlikely victory and what it means for the future of electoral politics in America.