Politics1 - 2008 Presidential Candidates: US Senator John Kerry (D-MA)

POLITICAL: Democratic nominee for Congress, 1972; Lieutenant Governor, 1982-85 (elected 1982); US Senator, 1985-present (elected in 1984, re-elected in 1990, 1996 & 2002). Chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, 1987-89. Democratic nominee for President, 2004 (48.3% - 59,028,111 votes - 251 Electoral Votes).

PROFESSIONAL: US Navy, 1966-69 (awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts for combat action in Vietnam). Attorney. Assistant District Attorney, 1977-82.

PERSONAL: Born December 11, 1943, in Denver, Colorado. Married to Theresa Heinz Kerry. Two children from previous marriage; three step-children. Catholic.

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The Candidate: Behind John Kerry's Remarkable Run for the White House by Paul Alexander (2004). This book is described as an "all-access pass to the inner workings of the Kerry campaign, the grooming of the candidate, and how decisions get made and who will be making them in the run up to the November election." Alexander was given extensive, behind-the-scenes access to Kerry, his wife, campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill and others. Clearly, the Kerry camp felt a high level of comfort and trust with Alexander -- and he did not betray that trust. There really aren't many "secrets" revealed, but it does give you an idea of how methodical Kerry is in his thinking and decision-making -- and the major role Cahill plays in day-to-day decisions. You'll read of early stumbles, the November 2003 firing of Kerry's first campaign manager, the great disdain the Kerry crew had for the Howard Dean campaign, and the re-tooling that brought him back from the brink of defeat to victory in Iowa (and, ultimately, the Presidential nomination). The book also contains a lot of passages that clearly contain Kerry's personal thoughts about events as they unfolded. It's a quick read, has interesting tidbits, and will be of interest to Kerry supporters. However, it was not a particularly critical look at Kerry because the author is clearly an admirer of his (much like Karen Hughes' book -- Ten Minutes from Normal -- that similarly fawned over President Bush). List: $23.95. Your Price: $9.58 (You Save 60%)!

A Call to Service: My Vision for a Better America by John Kerry (2003). To use a favorite Kerry '04 campaign tag line, Senator Kerry uses to book to set forth his life story and explain why he is "The Real Deal" that so many others try to claim as their own. Before Kerry lays out his positions on everything from education reform to health care, foreign policy and civil liberties, he discusses his candidacy in the context of his calling to public service, hitting on the themes of finding common ground and restoring America's promise. Kerry's belief in service strongly shapes the campaign platform, as in his suggestion that community service should become a requirement for high school graduation. Kerry's autobiographical story is somewhat muted here, serving as "background music to the main theme of my life right now." Still, he frequently references experiences from his past as guides to his views on current issues. This book -- which was certainly intended as Kerry's authorized "campaign book" -- helps give the reader a good understanding of the man and his ideas. List: $24.95. Your Price: $9.98 (You Save 60%)!

The New War: The Web of Crime That Threatens America's Security by John Kerry (1997). Senator Kerry pulled together information he gathered as Chair and ranking Democrat on the Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics, and International Operations (1987-97) to author this book. Kerry explains that crime has globalized, with international groupings (Italian Mafia, Russian mafia, the Japanese Yakuza, the Chinese Triads, and the Colombian cartels, among others). These groups, he wrote, work with smaller, specialized groups in Nigeria, Poland, Jamaica, Panama, etc., and with banks and businesses that enable such criminal enterprises to handle the vast wealth they generate. Kerry describes this network's key players, spotlighting the drug trade, terrorism, human contraband, and money laundering. He also suggests globalized law enforcement efforts that would seize global criminals' assets and share them (and criminal intelligence) with nations willing to cooperate. Price: $15.95. Paperback.