The 2008 US presidential campaign started as an extraordinary battle between three charismatic contenders. While the Republicans chose John McCain relatively early on, the contest between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton ran neck and neck until June, with the narrowest victory for the outsider Obama.

The fight for the Democratic nomination was unique, with the first black candidate pitched against the first female contender. Clinton started as odds-on favourite, but Obama caught the mood of change. But Clinton's support, mainly among millions of women, Hispanics and white-collar workers, leaves her as the king-maker, without whose support Obama cannot triumph in November.

{cite}To Be President{/cite} describes in detail the greatest show on earth, human drama played out on the grandest of scales. It covers the whole campaign, a tale of money and power, race and religion, adulation and revenge. It tells the story month by month: the unfolding campaigns, leading up to the party conventions and the formal choice of candidate; the struggles, conflicts and attacks by each contender on the other; and the election itself in November 2008.

The book has been published in January to tie in with the inauguration. The contest may be very close once again, with the world looking daily at the most exciting political story of modern times.

About the author:

Ian Leslie is a British journalist. He became hooked on US politics when living in America at the time of the 2000 'hanging chad' election. He lived there for four years, and will be covering one of the party conventions. He runs a political blog: www.marbury.typepad.com.