I am in LOVE with this 7-part Newsweek story on the campaign from start to finish.

[Bicoastal]

http://www.newsweek.com/id/167582

I'm even reading the parts about McCain--but of course, the most fascinating tidbits are about the Obamas.

Here's a short excerpt that should come as a surprise to no one:

She (Michelle Obama) was a Princeton and Harvard Law grad, formidable and elegant but at the same time playful. While her husband was a dreamer and serious, she was the practical one and a bit of a jokester and teaser. There was no doubting their physical attraction. Reporters liked to snicker at how much looser the candidate seemed after spending the occasional night at home or on the road with his wife.

Awww, true love. :loveya:

[FSogol]

1. Kick. Good article. n/t

[daninthemoon]

2. From what I understand, a backstage documentary has been filmed

of the Obamas during the campaign, and will follow them through inauguration. I can't wait to see it. I am so charmed by this family, I'm sure the film will be fascinating and inspiring.

[Pirate Smile]

5. Here is an article on it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/movies/13docu.html?em

A Documentary About the Obama Campaign Is Drawing Wide Interest

By BRIAN STELTER
Published: November 12, 2008

A documentary, more than two years in the making, about President-elect Barack Obama’s campaign is gathering significant interest from international distributors just days after being picked up in the United States by HBO. A team of directors and editors backed by the actor Edward Norton is furiously editing the untitled project.

Given the historic nature of Mr. Obama’s victory and worldwide interest in the presidential race, the film is drawing attention from the BBC and other foreign broadcasters. Since the HBO acquisition was announced, “we’ve had an enormous number of incoming calls from territories all over the world,” said Andrew Hurwitz, an entertainment lawyer who is representing the film along with the talent agency Endeavor.

Behind-the-scenes snapshots of campaigns have become a documentary staple, with “The War Room,” about President Bill Clinton’s 1992 run, and “Journeys With George,” about President Bush’s 2000 race, being two recent examples. The film about Mr. Obama’s 21-month campaign may prove to be an especially big draw overseas

....
The film’s genesis dates to 2004, when Amy Rice, a cinematographer, was alerted by her brother Andrew, now an Oklahoma state senator, to several Internet articles about Mr. Obama before his speech Democratic National Convention. She began tracking Mr. Obama’s Senate campaign.

“She was intrigued by the possibility that he might run for president someday,” Mr. Rice said.
Joined by Alicia Sams as co-director and backed by Mr. Norton’s production company, Class 5 Films, Ms. Rice started filming Mr. Obama in 2006, following him to Africa and documenting his political life as he contemplated running for president. As his campaign commenced in 2007, the two filmmakers were a recognizable presence among the traveling press corps. Ms. Rice and Ms. Sams did not respond to interview requests.

As early as last winter, those at Class 5 said, they thought the project could be notable. During the primary election season, Ari Emanuel — an agent at Endeavor and the brother of Mr. Obama’s new chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel — set up meetings for Mr. Norton with three HBO executives, Richard Plepler, Michael Lombardo and Sheila Nevins. The network quickly committed to the project.

[Jennicut]

6. Awesome, I loved the War Room as an 18 year old kid. I want to see some Obama in action.

[GrizzlyMan]

12. I love HBO, I hate HBO

Much of their content is incredible, such as the John Adams series, Entourage, Big Love, the Sopranos, Generation Kill, but they can also be frustrating as hell like when they killed Deadwood for no reason and they have 2 year gaps between seasons for some of their best shows, again for no good reason.

This project sounds incredible. I just hope we don't have to wait 2 years to see it. They say spring or summer but I'd bet at the earliest it'll be next fall or winter.

[No Elephants]

17. I hope that someone saves many copies of the unedited footage for historians. This is a campaign to

be studied in detail. Of course, even the original decision of what to film is editing of a kind.

[Pirate Smile]

3. I didn't realize just how long it took to read it until I had finished.

I enjoyed it too.

[MadBadger]

4. It was an extremely interesting read. Though I'm not sure how much I should read as fact.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

7. Great article with insights I hadn't read/heard anywhere else

Someone's still doing real journalism in the MSM.

[Pirate Smile]

8. Newsweek has done this for quite a few presidential elections. They get extra access based on the

agreement that they can't report on any of it until AFTER the election.

[medeak]

9. k&r.. great read! n/t

[Triana]

10. They are hot for each other. You could see it between them when Obama made his victory speech...

...it was warm on that stage!

[Duppers]

11. Me too.

I downloaded it and have been reading.

[Phredicles]

13. Will this article be in the print/hard copy edition of Newsweek?

I don't normally buy it, but this sounds worth the five bucks or whatever it is.

[nutshell2002]

18. yes it's in the election commemorative edition..bought it last week

[davidpdx]

14. Thanks for posting this

I'm going to sit down this weekend and read it.

[Eurobabe]

15. I agree, those articles were fascinating

I printed them and saved them. :hi:

[fujiyama]

16. It's a great read

and you end up getting a better appreciation for Obama and the amazing campaign they ran.