The Battle for the White House ... and the Soul of America

On 4 November 2008, Barack Obama made history by being elected the first African-American President of the United States. His meteoric rise from a junior US senator to the most powerful leader in the world is an American story that few in or outside the US believed possible. Viewed as a transformative figure, Obama has been compared to John F. Kennedy for his ability to inspire millions and for the hope that he will usher in a new era in US politics.

In The Battle for the White House, Carole Coleman follows this amazing race from November 2007 right up to Election Day. Coleman goes behind the scenes to describe Obama's spectacular upset of the heavily favoured Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries, the drama of the Democratic and Republican Conventions, the many controversies and debates along the way, and the final defeat of Republican war hero John McCain and his colourful running mate, Sarah Palin.

Through interviews with party insiders, campaigners, political experts and hundreds of ordinary voters, Coleman recounts the remarkable story of the most hard-fought, expensive and engaging US presidential election in modern history - fascinating in its own right but also critical for the future of the United States and its standing in the world.

About the Author

Carole Coleman, a US-based freelance journalist who covered the election for "Today with Pat Kenny" on RTe Radio, also contributes to BBC Radio and WAMU Radio in Washington DC. She is the author of the best-selling book Alleluia America: An Irish Journalist in Bush Country (2005, The Liffey Press).