The Choice 2012

A close friend and former classmate at Harvard Law School, Butts served as deputy White House counsel in 2009. She discusses their long friendship and talks about how Obama's unusual background has informed his approach to politics and policy.

He was Obama's chief of staff from 2009 to 2010 before he left the White House to run for Chicago mayor. Here, Emanuel discusses why the president ran into trouble in his attempts to create "a post-partisan environment and more productive Washington."

A professor of economics at MIT, Gruber specializes in health care. He was involved in the development of Mitt Romney's Massachusetts health care plan -- aka "Romneycare" -- as well as the Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare."

Eric Fehrnstrom has advised Romney as governor and through three campaigns: Romney's successful run for Massachusetts governor, his unsuccessful bid for president in 2008, and his 2012 presidential campaign. Known as tough campaigner, Fehrnstrom sees Romney's team as leaner, nimbler and more competitive in 2012.

Valerie Jarrett, a friend from the Obama's Chicago days who went on to advise the president, talks about his early political ambitions and how Michelle changed his life.

Gerald Kellman, who hired Obama to be a community organizer, says his work in Chicago was a "baptism by fire." Kellman also discusses an early setback for the young activist, and how his experiences in Chicago connect to his ensuing political career.

Republican political consultant Charley Manning says it would have been a miracle if Mitt Romney, a political newbie, had beaten the well-entrenched Kennedy 18 years ago. But today Manning sees Romney as a seasoned candidate with skills and abilities that match the times.

A Virginia physician, McBride has been friends with Mitt Romney for more than 40 years. The two met in 1966 while serving as missionaries in France, and he explains here how the 30-month mission for the Mormon Church forever changed his friend.

A former classmate of Mitt Romney at Michigan's elite Cranbrook School, Philip Maxwell recalls the Republican nominee's early reputation as a prankster.

Geoff Rehnert, a former colleague of Mitt Romney, talks about the launch of Bain Capital, the firm's strategy and Romney's leadership style.

As deputy national security adviser for strategic communications, Rhodes is one of Obama's top foreign policy advisers and was involved in the discussions that led to his decision to send U.S. troops into Pakistan to pursue Osama bin Laden.

Born Ann Davies, she met Mitt Romney in high school and the couple married in 1969, three months after Mitt returned from being a missionary in France. She discusses how she helped convince Mitt to take over the 2002 Olympics, as well as to seek the presidency in both 2008 and 2012.