12 essential presidential campaign books

The bestselling novel “Primary Colors,” a satire based on Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign, was originally published anonymously. Newsweek columnist Joe Klein, at podium, finally admitted to being the author at a news conference with then-Random House President Harry Evans, right. (Bebeto Matthews / Associated Press )

Sept. 20, 2012 8 AM PT

As the 2012 presidential campaign moves into its final weeks, it’s being lifted by bear hugs and thrown off course by surprising misstatements. The shifts of fortune can make for compelling drama, even in the rearview mirror. Here are a dozen of the most notable books – brilliant, clear-eyed, anonymous, and even drugged out – about the presidential campaigns of recent history.

Steve Erickson’s “American Nomad: Pop Visions, Restless Politics, and Apocalyptic Memories at the End of the Millennium” combined coverage of the 1996 campaign for Rolling Stone, memoir and novelistic exploration of the nation’s psyche. (Stefano Paltera / Los Angeles Times)

Outsider Democrat Dennis Kucinich, seen here at a fundraiser with Morgan Fairchild and Elliott Gould, was one of several candidates who briefly ignited author Stephen Elliott’s hopes in his narrative of the 2004 race, “Looking Forward to It.” (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

The 2011 novel “O,” an anonymous satire of the Obama campaign, wasn’t as successful as “Primary Colors.” It turned out to have been written by senior McCain campaign strategist Mark Salter, seen here at a rally two weeks before the election. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

In addition to tracking the 2008 presidential nominees -- Barack Obama and John McCain -- “Game Change” by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin followed the stories of contenders Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. (Jim Bourg / Associated Press )

Books