Keeping things light while sharing insights into the personality quirks of big-name politicians, Claire Shipman captivated the audience at the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Lecture June 6.

Alumni attending Reunion packed Bailey Hall for the talk by Shipman, senior national correspondent for ABC News' "Good Morning America," who has many years of experience reporting on foreign affairs and national politics.

She focused much of her talk, "The Road to the White House 2008," on this year's presidential campaign, calling it "like nothing we've seen in a long time," as it's the first since 1928 with no "heir apparent" from either the Democratic or Republican parties.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, who was expected to concede her Democratic candidacy to Sen. Barack Obama on June 7, fell victim in part to the "phenomenon" of Obama -- the power of which was not readily recognized early in his campaign, Shipman said. His message of change, she said, has resonated with voters much more than with what she described as Clinton's tough and confident approach.

Shipman also described Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, as candid and honest, and, pleasantly for journalists, someone who "actually answers questions."

Despite the excitement surrounding Obama's campaign, Shipman said she does not think he is a "shoo-in" by any means, and that he and McCain will likely have a tough battle ahead.

The challenge for Obama will be particularly the white male vote -- "so ironic," she called it, in a historic primary with the first serious black candidate and first serious female contender, yet "it's really all about the white men."

Shipman also brought the house down recounting an interview with President George W. Bush, just before the Sept. 11 attacks, at the president's Crawford, Texas, ranch.

Eight months pregnant and suffering from the heat of Texas in August, Shipman found herself touring the ranch and chugging water all day alongside the president, who remarked that since becoming president he'd "learned the importance of hydrating."