The year of Obama : how Barack Obama won the White House

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 W...