Sign in Subscribe
Bush, George W.

Best Sellers Fuel Campaign Debate

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

In a highly contentious election year, books about the Bush administration have become central to the battle between President Bush and John Kerry. Bob Woodward's "Plan of Attack" has triggered a wide range of points and counterpoints, while Richard Clarke's "Against All Enemies" and Paul O'Neill's "The Price of Loyalty" have also made headlines. Eight of the top 15 non-fiction best sellers focus on Bush or conservative Republican policies, while only two books, Karen Hughes' "Ten Months From Normal" and Sean Hannity's "Deliver Us From Evil," can be considered resolutely pro-Bush.

Key Takeaways:

  • Bob Woodward's "Plan of Attack" has been the defining hot spot of the battle between President Bush and John Kerry, and is currently at the top of the Bush-Cheney reelection Web site's "Suggested Reading" list.
  • Eight of the top 15 non-fiction best sellers focus on Bush or conservative Republican policies, including Richard Clarke's "Against All Enemies" and Paul O'Neill's "The Price of Loyalty".
  • Al Franken's "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them" has been a top 10 best seller for 34 weeks, and is considered to be far more critical of the Bush administration than books written by pro-Bush authors like Karen Hughes and Sean Hannity.
  • The authors of these books have been highly visible on television, with appearances on shows such as "Meet the Press," "The Daily Show," "60 Minutes," and "Hardball with Chris Matthews".
  • The Washington Post/ABC News poll released this week shows President Bush defeating John Kerry by a 48-43 margin, with Kerry's support declining since the previous month.

Statistics:

  • 8 of the top 15 non-fiction best sellers focus on Bush or conservative Republican policies.
  • 34 weeks - the duration for which Al Franken's "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them" has been a top 10 best seller.
  • 48-43 - the margin by which President Bush is currently leading John Kerry in the Washington Post/ABC News poll.
  • 44 - the percentage of the vote that John Kerry had in a previous Washington Post/ABC News poll.

Sources:

  • "Plan of Attack" by Bob Woodward
  • "Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror" by Richard Clarke
  • "The Price of Loyalty: George W. Bush, the White House and the Education of Paul O'Neill"
  • "Ten Months From Normal" by Karen Hughes
  • "Deliver Us From Evil: Defeating Terrorism, Despotism and Liberalism" by Sean Hannity
  • "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right" by Al Franken
  • "Meet the Press" by Tim Russert
  • "The Daily Show" by Jon Stewart
  • "60 Minutes"
  • "Nightline"
  • "Today"
  • "Larry King Live"
  • "Hannity & Colmes"
  • "Hardball with Chris Matthews"
  • Washington Post/ABC News poll

Read more