"A long time coming" : the inspiring, combative 2008 campaign and the historic election of Barack Obama / Evan Thomas ; with exclusive, behind-the-scenes reporting by the staff of Newsweek.

Prologue: Age of Obama / Jon Meacham -- 1: How he did it -- 2: Back from the dead -- 3: Long siege -- 4: Going into battle -- 5: Center stage -- 6: Great debates -- 7: Final days -- Epilogue -- Appendix: Interview with Barack Obama -- Acknowledgments.

From the Publisher: Since 1984, Newsweek has been renowned for its vivid, in-depth special election coverage of the ordeal of running for the presidency. A year before the election, Newsweek assigns reporters to get inside the campaigns of the Republican and Democratic candidates. Newsweek promises not to publish any information until after the votes are cast, and in exchange, the reporters receive remarkable access. They travel with the candidates, are there at crucial turning points and confidential meetings, and uncover stories not covered in day-to-day reporting. In this book, a compelling narrative by Evan Thomas, Newsweek shares the inside stories from one of the most exciting elections in recent history, illuminating the personalities and events that influenced the outcome, and taking stock of the key players and key issues for the new administration. This will be an absorbing read for anyone interested in American politics.