Bush is in the running for Texas Land Commissioner this November. Although the election was 26 years ago, there are, of course, familiar faces. The book is over 1,000 pages long, and Cramer takes a hard look at what made these presidential hopefuls tick. to the lives they shared? What happened to their idea of themselves?'Ĭalling What It Takes exhaustive would be a massive understatement. once they decided to run, and marched (or slid, or flung themselves headlong) into this semi-rational, all-consuming quest. Cramer writes, 'I wanted to know enough about these people to see.

Cramer followed the Republican and Democratic candidates for the presidency in 1988, and chronicled what it was like for politicians to run the cruel and unforgiving gauntlet that is the American election system. There's no easy answer to that question, but in his book What It Takes, the late Richard Ben Cramer came closer to finding out than just about anybody before or since.

Who are these people who are willing to put themselves and their families through constant scrutiny by the press, blistering attacks from their opponents, and hateful comments from Internet trolls? Others, like Wendy Davis in the Texas governor race have seen their once bright lights fade.Įven in its best moments, running for office is a roller coaster. Some, like Kansas Senate hopeful Greg Orman and Georgia governor candidate Jason Carter, may pull off surprising victories. This year's races have already made stars - some rising, some falling - out of Americans hoping to represent their states and districts.

At least, some of them will - about 40% of eligible voters, if past elections are any indication. In less than two weeks, Americans will go to the polls to vote in the midterm elections. Your purchase helps support NPR programming. Close overlay Buy Featured Book Title What It Takes Subtitle The Way to the White House Author Richard Ben Cramer

Ben cramer what it takes