Books

Burton, M. J., & Shea, M. (2003). Campaign mode. Rowman & Littlefield

This book is an exhaustive set of case studies that deal with many of the issues current campaigns are forced to overcome. Former senior aid to Vice President Al Gore Michael Burton and former strategists Daniel Shea use their expert knowledge from within the field to reveal insider secrets and produce an enlightening scope into the world of political campaigning. For strategists, switching into campaign mode sometimes has less to do with policy and more with procedure. This book is practical in applying text-book tactics and seeing how they un-fold in real situations on the campaign trail.

Graff, G. M. (2007) The first campaign: globalization, the web, and the race for the White House . Farrar, Straus and Giroux..

Young and ambitious, author Garret Graf attempts to tackle the topic of the internet and politics. Graf describes the transformation of the political conversation in that it has become a two-way process with the increasingly popularity of online blogs, newspapers, and magazines. As more voters turn to the internet for their news and opinion pieces, candidates are approaching their campaigns with a more personal approach than they have historically. Graf also speaks about gloabalization and its role in the 2008 presidential elections. A phenomenal resource that offers a portrait of the current political landscape in relation to new media and global trade and politics.

Pelossi, C. (2007) Campaign boot camp: basic training for future leaders. Pollpoint Press.

Daughter of the first woman Speaker of the House, Christine Pelossi, provides an inside look into the campaign process by utilizing her first-hand experiences stemming from her involvement in her mother's campaigns. In the book, Pelossi provides a seven-step guide to effective campaigning at all levels of public service. Although the book is geared towards a political audience, its information could be useful in the non-profit and other areas of public service. Equipped with a personal testimonies and insider access, this is a great tool for anyone seeking to gain an understanding of the various stages in campaigning and the importance of behind the scenes efforts.