He did not react well to criticism of his speaking style or debate performances. Obama left the staff alone, and they soon learned it was best to leave him alone. He let the staff plan and execute the campaign, while the candidate focused on speeches, personal appearances and fundraising calls.

Unlike other candidates, Obama did not try to micromanage the campaign and trusted the judgment of political professionals. Plouffe praises Obama for his willingness to give up control to the staff. Unlike Jimmy Carter, Obama Did Not Try to Run His Campaign The author has excellent advice for anyone planning a national campaign, and the book concentrates on “nuts and bolts” aspects of the campaign rather than Obama’s “hope and change” message. Liberal activist Arianna Huffington calls it “The most important political book of the year.” After reading the book, my major observations are listed below, and I would recommend The Audacity to Win to both Republicans and Democrats. In the President’s words, the O team succeeded in electing “This skinny guy from the South Side with a funny name.” Political professionals will long be discussing their successful 21 month strategy which is outlined in campaign manager David Plouffe’s book, The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama’s Historic Victory. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) had a huge lead in public opinion, delegates and fundraising when she entered the race. The national mood obviously helped him, and the Obama victory was assured when Wall Street collapsed and the global recession began in mid-September of 2008.Ī 2008 Newsweek cover story called the Obama campaign staff “The O Team,” and they proved the conventional wisdom was wrong. Obama critics should give him credit for hiring a team of political all stars, and conducting a spectacularly successful campaign. In 2006, then Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) faced long odds when he first began to speak of a presidential campaign.

The success of his campaign shocked many experts on both the left and right.

On the week of his inauguration in January of 2009, according to a CNN poll, Obama had an 84% approval rating and only 14% disapproved. It was not long ago that Obama appeared to be invincible. Survey data already has the President losing a hypothetical 2012 re-election campaign to former Gov. President Obama’s popularity has plummeted, and Democrats are now headed for a significant setback in the 2010 midterm election. The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama’s Historic Victory, by David Plouffe, Viking, 390 pages, reviewed by Gregory Hilton

The audacity to win by david plouffe