Foundations of campaign strategy. Presidential campaigns as communication ; The rhetorical puzzle ; Rules are rhetorical constructions ; Perspectives on campaign media ; Synthesizing part I -- Modes of presidential campaign communication. Acclaiming, attacking, and defending ; Campaign speeches ; Campaign journalism ; Advertising candidates in the political market ; Televised presidential debates : the rhetorical Super Bowl ; Using new media for familiar puzzles ; Synthesizing part II -- Stages of the campaign for the White House. The surfacing stage ; The nomination stage ; The consolidation stage ; The election stage ; Synthesizing part III -- Conclusion : quest for the White House.