There's a certain genre of movies I refer to as the "white men in suits" movies. They are the kind of movies where many of the main characters look alike and not much is done to differentiate them. I'm always slightly confused during these films, because the characters are so interchangeable. So in the third reel when it is revealed that Mr. So-and-so was really a double agent/mafia don/retired baseball player I always think, "Wait, who was Mr. So-and-so?"This book was much like that. The story

There's nothing really wrong with this book, it's just that the veil has been pulled back in the years since it's been published. The intrigues of being a candidate and the constant drama that results from the vetting process for a national political position are now well known (or, at least, no surprise). I give my stars based on my enjoyment of a book and, ultimately, this was a bit of a bore for me.

Joe Klein is the same guy who wrote Primary Colors under the clever name of Anonymous. If you liked Primary Colors, you'll like this. Actually, if you like West Wing (TV), you'll like this. I'm in both buckets. Charlie Martin is a US Senator, and while this plot revolves around his previous try for the Presidency and his current re-election campaign, it's basically a story about the real life of a US Senator - warts and all.

In his brilliant Primary Colors, Joe Klein wrote a thinly disguised account of Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign with the author listed as "Anonymous". He had been outed by the time this sequel - a thinly disguised account of the machinations of John McCain's campaign - appeared. Without the freedom that comes with anonimity, this book was never going to live up to the fierce truth of Primary Colours. But it is still a great account of a political ego somewhat out of control.

This is a topical novel by Joe Klein, the author of the best-seller, Primary Colors (published anonymously at the time). I selected it as a fun read during the current primary season and enjoyed all of the political "insider" stuff. It was much more vibrantly written than the Jim Lehrer novel that I also read recently.

A surprisingly good book--a good story about a US senator from "Des Pointe" in a midwestern state--but also surprisingly insightful about national politics & human relationships (which is, at root, politics).

Klein's 'Primary Colors' was a brilliant piece of political fiction (or should I say faction), and set the bar incredibly high for him when it came to his follow up. 'The Running Mate' is not at 'Primary Colors' level, but it is still a damn fine read.Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of 'The Running Mate' is that the central character, Senator Charles Martin, is ultimately a bad politician and yet a decent guy, the obverse of Jack Stanton from Klein's earlier work (and a subsidiary character he...

Having read and enjoyed "Primary Colors" several years ago, which Klein originally published anonymously, about Bill Clinton's first Presidential campaign, "The Running Mate" proved to be a lively corollary centering around the life and loves of a Republican senator. In a postscript Klein mentions that his fictional Republican senator is an amalgam of several current and former Senators who are also Vietnam vets including John McCain, John Kerry and Bob Kerry. Klein has worked as a journalist si...

The Running Mate refers not to a Vice-Presidential candidate, but to the girlfriend of fictional Senator Charles Martin who is up for re-election in 1994(and eventually loses), following his failed bid for the Presidency in 1992. Set between New York, Washington DC, and a fictional Midwestern state located in the authors mind somewhere near Iowa and Missouri, this book never quite gets moving. While there is plenty of stuff going on, the plot gets lost for awhile- though thankfully it reappears

I had a hard time getting into this book. It starts in the present and then retells the past and works back up to the present. Originally I was only going to give this book one star, but as I trudged through the beginning it did get better. It was about a politician and I'm not really into politics so that may have hindered me. Also, almost all the characters were referred to by three different names (for example: Patrick Dunn was also called Patsy, Pat, Dunnsie - I thought it was confusing).

Another gem by Joe Klein.Interesting expose on the experiences of a presidential candidate and IS written based on the 'character' Senator Charlie Martin, one of the men who opposes Gov. Jack Stanton (of the book Primary Colors)in their bid for the presidental nomination. (Loosely based on the Life of Bob Dole)

Unfortunately the Aberdeen library only had the abridged version, but I really liked it anyway. Joe Klein also wrote Primary Colors, which I adored, and this book was also politically driven and enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the lovestory, since I endeavor to be a political wife.

I was in the mood for some fluffy reading, and for me political books like this fit that bill. This book was really fun, though if you're not a political junkie like me, it could get tedious and maybe even boring at times. I like hearing about the ins and outs of Washington and campaigns . . .

Joe Klein's novel about American Politics...has the nice ring of an insider, or a truly closer observer, attempting to make sense of the wicked, complicated and financially corrupt crazy world of American Politics.

Ugh...only the third book in a lifetime of reading that I could not finish. Halfway through I stillo had not idea what the plot was and didn't care about the characters. I can't even sell this book at a garage sale.

Is it okay to rate a book if you didn't read it? Well, I thought I would enjoy this one, but within the first few pages the "f" word was used twice, and I decided that was too much. So I quit reading. The end.

Long. Nowhere near as entertaining as primary colours. Thought given the current us election that this would be a good time to give this one a go. I was wrong. I read Joe Klein every week in time magazine but this just didn't work.

Rated it 2 for obvious reasons. Tried reading it at intervals to see if it would grab me in any manner but alas it was not meant to be.wish Mr. Klien good luck with his future efforts. I do enjoy rading his short articles from time to time.

This was an audio tape. I don't remember why, but we did not care for the story.

A U.S. Senator who is struggling in all facets of his life. It moves slowly in places and has a cast of thousands but is worth while.

Really enjoyed Klein's novel. You got the inside look and feel of a real campaign, with the great story-telling of a novel.

Not the politically driven novel I expected, which was a nice surprise. Charlie Martin was, in fact, a senator but this is really a love and life story. I liked it more than I thought I would.

I could not get interested in this book.

How did I not know about this book?

Not as good as Primary Colors but a decent fluffy political read to distract myself from this election season.

Ok, I like watching the Newsroom on TV better

What does a politician face when running for an office? Good insight with a love twist in this novel written in 3rd person.

fun, entertaining read. I thought it would be similar to primary colors, but this is full on fiction, not a veiled attempt at a documentary. enjoyable nonetheless

So funnythis is great for political junkies. Love all of Klein's books. The best part is that it was all true!

Entertaining novel about the process of American electoral politics on the national level. Will like if you are a fan of shows like The West Wing.