Almost Madam President: Why Hillary Clinton 'Won' in 2008

(Paperback)

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All around the world women are presidents and prime ministers, yet in America, we have yet to elect the first woman president. When Barack Obama accepted the nomination as the Democratic candidate for president in 2008, the media were quick to point out that Hillary Clinton lost. Yet Clinton won almost 18 million votes and was the first front- runner woman candidate. Almost Madam President: Why Hillary Clinton 'Won' in 2008 argues that Hillary Clinton gained more than she lost in her bid for the presidency. This book takes the reader on a rhetorical journey through Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign, focusing on Clinton's sophisticated "You Tube" style announcement speech, the debates, and the many notable stump speeches and media events on the campaign trail. Along the way Gutgold examines the obstacles and opportunities of women as presidential candidates.

Reviews

Hillary Clinton came closest to the presidency than any woman in history. She took her defeat with grace and courage and she realized that you never stop when you are dedicated to the country. This book offers a marvelous thesis, that Hillary Clintons loss of the presidency is still a win for all women daring to go where they havent been before. -- Helen Thomas, Dean, White House Press Corps, Hearst Columnist
Gutgold reveals how Clinton responded to the media's gender bias and navigated the double bind of gender communication with rhetorical agility and political savvy. With careful research and insightful analysis, this book makes an important contribution to the growing literature surrounding Clinton's historic presidential bid. -- Linda Schifino, Carlow University
Nichola Gutgold demonstrates the remarkable rhetorical elasticity of the first woman to be a front-runner for her party's nomination for president. Dr. Gutgold shows how Clinton's ability to utilize a full range of rhetorical style-from feminine to lawyerly-brought her to the brink of the Democratic nomination for president despite unfavorable treatment by much of the mainstream media. This book is a must-read for scholars interested in presidential rhetoric and the rhetoric of women in the twenty-first century. -- Steven R. Brydon
In Almost Madam President, Gutgold offers a detailed narrative of the Clinton primary campaign, allowing readers to experience it again and to draw conclusions about it. The book focuses on Clinton's Internet announcement, speeches, performance in the debates, and on television coverage and attacks. * Presidential Studies Quarterly *
A strong start on the challenging and extraordinarily important task of uncovering the power of identity in politics. * Politics & Gender *

Author Bio

Nichola D. Gutgold is associate professor of communication arts and sciences at Pennsylvania State University at Lehigh Valley and author of Seen and Heard: The Women of Television News and Paving the Way for Madam President.