How He Did It

The Truth About the Election
“As he demonstrated in his campaign for the presidency, Barack Obama thinks long. Hence, the new president-elect is better prepared to take office than any other newly elected chief executive in the history of the modern presidency,” writes Elizabeth Drew. (The New York Review of Books, Dec. 18, 2008)

Secrets of the 2008 Campaign
Newsweek magazine’s behind-the-scenes series on the 2008 campaign. In particular, read about How He Did It and The Final Days of the race. (Nov. 5, 2008)

Battle Plans
The New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza reports on the campaign tactics and strategies that proved victorious for Obama. (Nov. 17, 2008)

Near-Flawless Run Is Credited in Victory
“The story of Mr. Obama’s journey to the pinnacle of American politics is the story of a campaign that was, even in the view of many rivals, almost flawless. But Mr. Obama and his aides believed from the outset that it would have to be nothing less.” (The New York Times, Nov. 5, 2008)

Between Obama and the Press
Mark Leibovich analyzes Obama’s communications team: What strategies did they adopt and how did they succeed? Featured is the role of Robert Gibbs, the campaign’s chief spokesman and Obama’s newly appointed press secretary. (The New York Times Magazine, Dec. 17, 2008)

The Machinery of Hope
Tim Dickinson investigates the Obama team’s unique combination of grassroots and online campaigning. (Rolling Stone, March 20, 2008)

Barack Obama: Road to the White House
The Chicago Tribune’s resource page featuring biographical information, election results and analysis, reporting on Obama’s transition team and several photo galleries.

The Obama Reader
An archive of reporting from the Chicago Reader. Included are early profiles of Obama, David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel.

Some Final Thoughts on Campaign ’08
A short analysis from the Pew Research Center on voting patterns from election ’08. Some interesting tidbits: McCain gained among last-minute deciders, who split their vote evenly between the two candidates; and the percentage of voters who said they voted “for” rather than “against” a particular candidate was the highest ever on record.

The Challenges Facing Obama

What the Next President Will Face -- Afghanistan
Insights from policymakers and analysts in FRONTLINE's October 2008 report The War Briefing. Of note is an interview with Gen. James L. Jones [Ret.], Obama’s newly named national security adviser.

The Challenges Facing Barack Obama
“How will a 21st-century president fare in a 19th-century world?” (The Economist, Nov. 6, 2008)

Council on Foreign Relations: Transition 2008
This page from the Council on Foreign Relations lays out some of the key issues that will be in President Obama’s “inbox,” including the financial crisis, Pakistan and Afghanistan, energy and climate change, Iraq, Iran and trade and globalization.

The Obama Presidency: A Transition to Power
This portal from The Washington Post tracks the Obama presidency as it takes shape.

The New Team
This interactive resource from The New York Times lays out Obama’s Cabinet and other key positions and advisers.