The election of a president is one of the most important events in American politics. While the concept is the same, the process of electing presidents has changed considerably since George Washington became the first president of the United States: Political parties now play a key role in the election process, campaigns dramatically affect voters' impressions of the candidates, and the rise of television and the Internet has greatly increased the information available to voters. Informative and accessible, ""How the President Is Elected"" is a revealing, full-color look at what it takes to run for president, how candidates are chosen, and more.

This book offers a history of U.S. political campaigns from early nationhood, when it was unseemly to actively campaign, to 19th-century campaign parades, slogans, songs, and souvenirs, and into the media blitz of modern 21st-century campaigns. Includes information about Barack Obama's historic victory in the 2008 presidential election plus coverage of his upcoming bid for reelection in the 2012 election.