I wanted to recommend a book to all you other political geeks. I've spent the last few days reading Brad Koplinski's
Hats in the Ring. It's a compliation of interviews with 28 Presidential candidates, both Republicans and Democrats. It's probably not a good gift for someone who doesn't love following presidential races, but it's a well researched book that gives a nice synopsis of the ups and down of the primary, (and with a few candidates) the general election process. I just finished reading an interview with Tom Harkin and the rethorical resemblance to Dean's campaign is really suprising, as is the New Democrat vs. Old Democrat tension in the primary. It's much more pronounced in this race, at least rhethorically, but the insights and little remembered history of some of the smaller primaries and candidates is really good.