Specifications

Polls. Black-and-white photographs. Index. Chronologies. Tables.

Summary

The 2008 presidential election was one of the most important and exciting political campaigns in American history. This groundbreaking election was the first in which a major party nominated a black candidate, the first in which the Republican Party nominated a woman for vice president, and the first to pit two sitting senators against each other. The age difference between Barack Obama and John McCain—25 years—was also the biggest in American history.

Providing a gripping, month-by-month narrative of the 2008 election and culminating with Barack Obama's historic win in November, Winning the White House 2008: The Gallup Poll, Public Opinion, and the Presidency recounts this fascinating presidential campaign. The book features more than 1,000 polls taken throughout the campaign by Gallup, the oldest and most respected polling company in the world. Each Gallup Poll offers valuable and unique information not available anywhere else: Some give a snapshot of the moment, based on the day’s or week’s events; others delve into the campaign’s major issues, such as the Iraq War, the economy, and energy; some trace the impact of the primaries, national conventions, and debates; and still others provide historical perspective by comparing the 2008 race to previous elections in American history. Featuring expert commentary on the candidates, issues, and public opinion polls as well as photographs, tables, and monthly chronologies, this authoritative new reference is the definitive account of one of the most critical and transformative elections in American history.

About the Author(s)

Frank Newport, Ph.D., has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Gallup Poll since 1991 and reports regularly for USA Today, NPR, CNBC, and other media outlets. Newport is Vice President of the National Council on Public Polls, is on the Executive Council of the American Association of Public Opinion Research, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research. He is the author of Polling Matters: Why Leaders Must Listen to the Wisdom of the People.

Jeffrey M. Jones, Ph.D., is Managing Editor of the Gallup Poll and has written many public opinion analyses for Gallup, including an extensive study of Hispanic American voting patterns.

Lydia Saad is the Senior Editor of the Gallup Poll and has written extensively on polling, public opinion, and politics.

Alec M. Gallup is Chairman of the Gallup Poll and Vice Chair of the George H. Gallup International Institute. He has been responsible for many of Gallup's most ambitious research projects, including Human Needs and Satisfaction, the first global survey ever conducted. This study covered more than 70 nations and two-thirds of the world's population.

Fred L. Israel, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of American History at the City College of New York. He holds the Scribe's Award from the American Bar Association for his joint editorship of The Justices of the United States Supreme Court. For 25 years, he compiled and edited the Gallup Poll into annual reference volumes.

Reviews

"...one of the most interesting studies of our latest election...interesting and unique...belongs in school, community college, and academic libraries."—American Reference Books Annual

"Recommended for public and school libraries as well as academic libraries..."—Library Journal

"As little else is available on the Gallup polls or any other polls related to this historic election, Winning the White House 2008 is truly unique...a highly usable and at times fascinating volume that allows readers to track what may be one of the most important events in American history. Recommended for academic and public libraries."—Booklist

"Before drawing conclusions about the last election, historians must read [this book]. Dispassionate, objective, and evenly balanced in its approach..."—The Public Historian