Campaign Journal 2008: A Chronicle of Vision, Hope, and Glory - Hardcover

Rangel, Carlos

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1412810833 ISBN 13: 9781412810838

Publisher: Routledge, 2009

Synopsis

In this distinctive and personal narrative of Barack Obama's 2008 campaign for the American presidency, Carlos Rangel chronicles the underlying currents of social change that led to this successful campaign. The results were a president with a clear majority of the votes cast; elected by a commanding majority of electoral votes; and who won states on both coasts, in the South, the Rust Belt, and the West. There were no recount battles, or intervention by the courts.

Rangel notes that the effective professional politician gathers coalitions around positions on the issues and uses these coalitions to formulate policies that bring these positions to fruition. The Obama Campaign coalesced expectations that he would be able to rapidly transform the way the country is led and lead Americans to a better future. These expectations were multiplied by an effective, well-run campaign. Certainly, Obama's capacity to inspire during the campaign led many to believe he could do the same as president.

Management of high expectations became one of President Obama's greatest challenges in the immediate period after the election. In transforming ideals of hope and change into reality, he faced political resistance from multiple fronts, an economy with structural flaws, and an internationally isolated United States. Rangel's unique background in Latin America enables him to make sharp observations about policies and campaign statements that may have influence in that region, including trade deals, drug wars and the populist rhetoric, and actions emanating from the region. This book is a solid start at analysis of the years ahead, as well as the year that was.

About this title

About the Author

Carlos J. Rangel has an MBA from a joint degree program between Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración (Caracas) and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) as well as a Certificate on Strategic Management from UCLA. He is also a graduate of Pratt Institute in New York City. Before starting his own business, Rangel was vice president of business development for a unit of the Miami-based New Media Division of the Venezuelan newspaper El Universal. Rangel also served as adjunct management professor at Florida Atlantic University and has been invited speaker at business conferences and seminars in Mexico City and southern California.

Review

“What a great chronicle of the President’s journey”

– Maria Shriver

“It is a welcome addition to my collection”

– Jimmy Carter

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1412810833
• ISBN 13: 9781412810838
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 152