David Plouffe Book: "The Audacity To Win" On VP Pick, Race Speech

Time Magazine has an exclusive four page excerpt from David Plouffe's new book, The Audacity to Win.

"Hopefully, there will be some lessons on how to put together a three-quarters of a billion dollar operation," Plouffe said when he announced that he was writing the book last December. He scored a seven-figure deal for the book, which will be released November 3rd, 2009.

Here are some highlights from Time.

On giving the race speech:

"No, we can't cancel anything," Obama interjected. "But I already know what I want to say in this speech. I've been thinking about it for almost 30 years. I'll call [lead campaign speechwriter Jon Favreau] in the morning and give him some initial guidance. And I'll work on this during downtime in the hotel room each night. Don't worry. Even if I have to pull all-nighters, I can make this work." We were flying by the seat of our pants. Somehow we had to keep faith that it would come together.

On meeting with Joe Biden about the vice presidency:

The [first] meeting started with Biden launching into a nearly 20-minute monologue that ranged from the strength of our campaign in Iowa ("I literally wouldn't have run if I knew the steamroller you guys would put together"); to his evolving views of Obama ("I wasn't sure about him in the beginning of the campaign, but I am now"); why he didn't want to be VP ("The last thing I should do is VP; after 36 years of being the top dog, it will be hard to be No. 2"); why he was a good choice ("But I would be a good soldier and could provide real value, domestically and internationally"); and everything else under the sun. Ax and I couldn't get a word in edgewise.

Plouffe also writes that Obama considered Hillary Clinton for VP much more seriously than the campaign staffers expected. As for Sarah Palin, Plouffe said: "I ... thought it was a downright bizarre, ill-considered and deeply puzzling choice."

Read the whole thing.

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