Not until this past year was I ever emotionally invested in a presidential campaign. So much was at stake this time that I couldn’t help but absorb every twist and turn. I listened to NPR during my commute, I obsessively checked headlines for updates, and I made it a point to view the ever-changing electoral college map estimate once a day.
I trust we made the right choice by electing Barack Obama over John McCain. But that’s not the point of this review, nor is it the point of 08: A GRAPHIC DIARY OF THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. What is the point is that in this comic-book account of the race of all races, journalist Michael Crowley has compiled a concise play-by-play of the events, yet also includes surprising elements that weren’t widely reported.
With art by SHOOTING WAR‘s Dan Goldman, hovering somewhere between the styles of David Rees and Jack Chick, the book begins in 2006 as the various players throw their hats into the arena, then quickly moves to 2007 and the game-changing 2008, including primaries, caucuses and Super Tuesdays.
Lest you think 08 is another product of the so-called “liberal media,” the gaffes of both parties — and there are plenty for each — are called out. In fact, it could be much, much worse; given the punching bag that Sarah Palin quickly became, she’s not even a major player in Crowley’s text. It should be noted, too, that all the dialogue comes from actual quotes, lending credibility to the whole affair.
It’s true: You can’t make this stuff up. —Rod Lott
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