Editor's note: This story contains references to potentially offensive language reportedly used by politicians during the 2012 campaign.
Washington (CNN) - "Double Down," a behind-the-scenes account of the 2012 presidential race by the journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, is out Tuesday. It's the sequel to "Game Change," their 2008 campaign retrospective that became an HBO film by the same name.
The authors, self-styled ringmasters of Washington's political media "Freak Show," are skilled at creating buzz, packing their book with provocative tidbits and a range of splashy scoops - an impressive feat considering that the Barack Obama-Mitt Romney showdown was the most scrutinized national campaign in American history.