A narrative thriller about the battle royale surrounding Barack Obama's quest for a second term amid widespread joblessness and one of the most poisonous political climates in American history.

The shellacking -- Tea Party tempest -- Obama Derangement Syndrome -- Strangled in the bathtub -- Fox Nation -- The Voter-Suppression Project -- The new Chicago machine -- The cave -- Not so great communicator? -- Missing the schmooze gene -- The Keeper of the Essence -- "We got him!" -- Obama's low point -- The clown car -- Playground of the superrich -- The Book of Mitt -- Boston Mad Men -- A message built to last? -- Obamacare's close shave -- The machine hums -- Demography as destiny -- In the scrum -- Makers versus takers -- The first debate -- The homestretch -- Shell-shocked.