John Hoynes was the newly minted CEO of a small Texas oil company when they struck black gold. It was just three days after John's 32nd birthday, and he immediately turned his new wealth and status to politics. At first he thought he'd just donate to the Democratic Party and support some fiscally conservative but socially liberal candidates for office.

But the Democratic Party was going out of fashion in Texas, even among those who still found it loathsome to vote for the party of Lincoln. The Republicans had a stranglehold on the national seats, and none of the seatholders could be considered socially liberal by any stretch of the imagination, and so John Hoynes somewhat unexpectedly found himself running for the Texas Lege. Even more surprisingly, he won.

His tough journey to the United States Senate taught John how to defend his Party and himself against Republican charges of fiscal irresponsibility while retaining his Democratic credibility. His record was, of necessity, a model of bipartisanship. John learned how to be effective, and how to compromise on the small stuff. After six years of gaining power and influence inside the Beltway, a run for the presidency seemed the obvious next step.

And Josh Lyman seemed the obvious choice for political director of the campaign. Josh was an up-and-comer, but he'd been around long enough to gain a reputation as someone who could make things happen. Over the last month, though, Josh seemed to have lost sight of the goal. Instead of finding choice pieces of legislation for John to support or sponsor, he wouldn't shut up about Social Security. A political mind like Josh's should understand that would open the door to charges of "tax-and-spend liberalism." That's not the way elections were won.

John wanted Josh's energy focused on Iowa and New Hampshire, on electoral strategies and sound bytes, not on policy points the public found difficult to understand.

Monday morning, John asked Janice to call Josh into his office; Janice buzzed him moments later.

"What'd you say?" John demanded.

"Josh took today and tomorrow off. He went to New Hampshire."

Son of a bitch. "Thanks," John snapped. Limited though their chances were, John still kept track of the other Democrats vying for the nomination. The only person campaigning in New Hampshire this week was Jed Bartlet, with his speeches about the importance of ideas and the revitalization of the Democratic Party.

Governor Bartlet was in this to make some noise, to liven up the debate. He couldn't win, not with McGarry heading up a team of unknowns. But now Josh was frustrated and in New Hampshire for a Bartlet sermon. Jed Bartlet would pontificate about Social Security, probably at some length, but he'd be saying something Josh wanted to hear.

A candidate who spoke about ideas with Josh's political acumen and McGarry's clout behind him could certainly give John a run for his money, assuming the public bought into it.

John cursed and slammed his fist into the desk.