The Institute of Politics at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government has, for every presidential election since 1972, held a post-election conference on the strategy and tactics of the presidential campaign. Since 1976, the institute has arranged publication of the proceedings, and this book is a record of last year’s forum, which took place within weeks of the November election. It presents a transcript of journalists’ questions answered (or dodged) by top officials of the Obama and Romney campaigns as well as representatives of the unsuccessful Republican primary campaigns and managers of the super PACs who played a role over the course of this election. For every interesting comment by someone such as the Obama campaign’s chief strategist David Axelrod, general readers will encounter an obscure or repetitive remark about a candidate they may have forgotten about, by a campaign official they’ve likely never heard of. A detailed time line of the entire election cycle is a useful appendix. VERDICT: Participants in the conference, who will all receive a copy of this book, will enjoy it, as will very serious political enthusiasts.

Library Journal

In the middle of a hard-fought presidential race, whenever there is an intriguing twist or turn, I find myself thinking: I can’t wait until the Campaign Managers' conference at the Kennedy School, so we can find out what top strategists were really thinking at that moment. This book will go on my office shelf as a Bible of the 2012 campaign. This conference has been a highlight for me of covering the last four presidential election cycles. I can’t wait until 2016.

Jeff Zeleny, Senior Washington Correspondent, ABC News

Campaign for President is an extraordinarily candid look at the 2012 presidential race by the people who lived it minute to minute.

Lois Romano, Senior Political Reporter, POLITICO; Fellow, Institute of Politics, Spring 2008

For anyone who has ever watched a presidential campaign and wondered, "what on earth were they thinking," this is the book for you. It really is a must read for anyone deeply interested in contemporary American presidential elections.

Charlie Cook, Editor and Publisher, The Cook Political Report; Fellow, Institute of Politics, Spring 2013