I finally finished Newsweek's post-election, behind-the-scenes story of the presidential campaign. I always find this interesting, with fascinating background and insider information embargoed until after the election. This seemingly book-length report took me three days to finish.

Here are some of the things I learned:

• The Obama campaign was very disciplined from the beginning, with very little of the sniping and backstabbing common in most campaigns. There were only a few stumbles along the way.
• The Hillary Clinton campaign was filled with drama queens and kings, and was pretty much a horrible mess.
• The McCain campaign was run a lot better than it sometimes seemed. They were just short of money and perpetually behind.
• McCain wouldn't allow criticism of: Obama's lack of military experience, Rev. Wright, Michelle Obama.
• It was unfair to label Steve Schmidt as a Karl Rove disciple. In reality, he wasn't anything like Rove.
• During his short tenure in the Senate, Obama did some things that rightly upset McCain (and even Ted Kennedy).
• Cindy McCain really really hated Karl Rove, blaming him for the rumors in 2000 that their adopted daughter, Bridget, was conceived via a black prostitute. When asked if she would stab Rove in the back if he walked by, Cindy said, "I would stab him in the front."
• There's a lot more to the Sarah Palin clothing spree. She and Todd have very expensive tastes, and can't resist free money. The campaign did a good job with the spin, but, "Privately, however, McCain's top advisers fumed at what they regarded as Palin's outrageous profligacy."
• The innovative Obama campaign broke new ground when it comes to mobilizing voters, turning supporters into volunteers, fundraising, using the internet, nationwide campaigning (as opposed to targeting key states), and grassroots organizing.
• Whereas candidates always gain weight during a campaign, Obama actually lost weight. He's very disciplined.
• McCain and Palin continually frustrated their staffs. They wanted to do their own thing, which created problems in presenting a consistent message. McCain held his impulses in check pretty well, but Palin did, indeed, go rogue in the latter days.
• Palin wanted to say some words during McCain's concession speech, but was told no.
• When it comes right down to it, there's not much more that McCain could have done. This was just a Democrat year.