Primary Colors opens with a quote be Machiavelli, "Men as a whole
             judge more with their eyes than with their hands." This is a great statement
             that sums up a good deal about Jack Stanton, the presidential candidate that
             this book follows. The handshake is the threshold act of politics and Jack
             Stanton knows it. He loves to go out, meet the people and shake hands with
             them. When he lost the New Hampshire primary he was not upset at all. A
             large number of voters on leaving the polls said the deciding factor was that
             they had met Stanton. Unfortunately though the people began to judge
             Stanton by what they had read in the papers. If the voters had judged Jack
             Stanton with their hands, a handshake, instead of their eyes, he would have
             easily become President because everyone that met him loved him.
             The book is told through the eyes of Henry Burton. He is a young, well
             educated and brilliant political strategist who formally served as a
             Congressional aide. He is also well know for being the grandson of a
             beloved Martian Luther King like figure of the civil rights era. Burton had
             resigned as a Congressional aide because he longed to work for someone he
             could believe in. He is consistently searching to rise above cynicism and
             make a positive and lasting political and social contribution. He reluctantly
             serves as the campaign manager for unknown southern Governor Jack
             Stanton. Susan Stanton convinces Burton that the fight will be uphill, but
             worth it. Throughout the Presidential race Burton flip-flops between
             enthusiasm and disillusionment. Each time Burton's faith in Stanton was
             tested, it was soon renewed when he saw the way Stanton could mesmerize
             Jack Stanton does have his faults, but he does seem to be the person
             that Burton and other Americans can believe in. He is sincerely dedicated to
             making American lives "just a little bit better" and he tru...