Previously on The West Wing:
I don't know if I've served you. . .
. . .very well over the past few days.
I won't be a punching bag
for Hoynes and Santos. . .
. . .and every welterweight
who wants a quick tabloid hit.
Public opinion's turning.
You're gonna see it at your events.
You get into this
thinking to yourself. . .
. . .that you're gonna play
by your own rules, and then. . .
. . .bit by bit,
you chip away at them. . .
. . .until you can't even name the game.
Russell and Hoynes made
a huge media buyout of Boston.
Close to gross ratings points.
We need to change the dynamic,
or we're finished.
It's pretty good over here.
-Hey, Josh!
-On the record, listen. . .
. . .the poll that matters
is on Super Tuesday.
Off the record, no way is Hoynes
up nine in California.
-It's an internal poll.
-Of his living room?
-His polling says--
-That you can rig these things.
It's four days
till the California primary.
-This is open.
-Russell's internals show him. . .
-. . .up in New York.
-He's campaigned there. . .
. . .what, times?
The guy has a hack license by now.
Are you banking on Latinos,
like in Arizona and New Mexico?
-And your internals?
-We're not releasing those.
-I'm through talking about polls.
-Because you're third in every one?
We're here to talk about issues.
It's a presidential campaign.
It's not a statistics convention.
But we got Hoynes up
by a lot less than nine.
You didn't get that from me.
Been two days since the press
asked a policy question.
I think that was about
the no-smoking policy on the plane.
Do you know this bill
in the California legislature. . .
. . .to bar illegal immigrants
from getting driver's licenses?
We're staying far away from it.
They passed it. It's on its
way to the governor's desk.
-The congressman will wanna denounce it.
-Of course.
Third in the polls, why not
champion the one group. . .
-. . .of Californians that can't vote?
-You'll talk to him?
Yeah.
I really liked those little bacon things
they had at the fundraiser in Ohio.
Yeah, me too. Except the fact
that it was Oregon.
Oregon, Ohio. It's a plane to a minivan
to a windowless hotel ballroom.
-You're lucky I knew it was an "O" state.
-That really ought to be partial credit.
At this point, all I do is read. . .
. . .the talking points they put
in front of me, you know.
Miss Santos, pleasure
to see you again, it says here.
I had such a great time during our
last conjugal visit that-- Page two.
My staff suggested I follow up
and seek additional--
Tell them that I maxed
out in Oregon.
We'll be starting our descent
into Sacramento 's Franklin...
. . .in just a few minutes.
Excuse me.
The California legislature
just passed that bill. . .
. . .to stop illegal immigrants
from getting driver's licenses.
-Four days before the primary.
-Because Republicans in the legislature. . .
. . .know it'll divide us.
You got the Latino vote on one hand. . .
. . .one third of primary voters here. . .
. . .and the notion of rewarding
illegal behavior on the other.
-Okay.
-The governor's gonna be accused of. . .
. . .screwing his own party.
We can only lose.
-I know you're gonna wanna speak--
-I don't wanna speak out.
-You don't?
-No.
-Fasten your seat belts...
-Okay.
...and prepare for landing.
We should be on the ground....
Just remind me
when we get to the hotel. . .
. . .I wanna talk
about our new internal poll.
You know Bram.
He's heading up California advance.
-He was on Missouri-New Mexico.
-Montana-Arizona.
-Right. The one with big hats.
-Do a quick change.
We have meet-and-greets, a quick
clutch followed by a receiving line.
-The difference?
-You met Backus at the Giants game.
Daughter's at Loyola.
Congratulate him on his. . .
-. . .wife's thyroid operation.
-It was successful?
Don't mention the thyroid operation.
Ed Garcia's in your room.
Then we'll do the health-care hit.
-Eddie's here?
-Couple of details. . .
-. . .about La Palabra's endorsement.
-They're huge with Latinos.
-Gonna be a great hit.
-Are we gonna bump somebody off?
-Hey.
-Hello, Eddie.
-How are you?
-How's my campaign widow?
Oh, just, you know, knitting
absentee ballots for Super Tuesday.
It's good to see a friendly face.
Everywhere I go now. . .
. . .it's TV cameras and coded produce.
That's the way the press pass. . .
. . .messages us on the plane.
They roll oranges.
The news isn't any better,
but you get your vitamin C.
-How long are you in California?
-Two days.
Redeye into Rhode Island
right after La Palabra's endorsement.
-We're excited about that.
-We really appreciate that. Hon?
-This one. Good.
-Thanks.
Matt, we're concerned about this
driver's license bill.
It could be the beginning of a new
wave of anti-immigrant legislation.
We need you to denounce it
in your speech to La Palabra.
I don't think I could do that, Eddie.
It would define my whole campaign.
I don't want voters to see me
as just the brown candidate.
I hope some of them
have black-and-white TVs.
The governor wants to veto this,
but he's scared.
Doesn't wanna be accused of torpedoing
the Democrats' chances. He needs cover.
-The governor's endorsed Hoynes.
-This is a moral issue.
Telling immigrants they can't drive,
make a living?
Nothing I say tomorrow will
make a difference. We need to focus. . .
. . .on electing a progressive candidate.
Then we can take on
all the tough causes.
Now all we need is
a progressive candidate.
Maybe you don't see
more friendly faces. . .
. . .because your friends
have trouble recognizing you.
I can't do it.
So you've said.
How we doing?
You sat with Backus at the Giants game.
Daughter's getting honors at Loyola.
You're with the herbal medicine
lobby in five minutes.
I was doing a home health-care hit.
-This is the pre-hit.
-Herbal medicine?
They're upset that our health-care plan
doesn't cover acoustic guitar playing.
We said we'd do a meeting
before the speech.
-Here he comes.
-Congressman!
The latest Field polls say
if the election were held today--
People would be surprised because
it's normally held on Election Day.
Are you urging the governor to side
with Hispanics on the license issue?
-I won't tell him how to run his state.
-Does it worry you Vinick's sweeping. . .
. . .the Republican primaries
while you're still slugging?
They can have their coronation.
The competition makes us tougher
for the fall. And if you believe that. . . .
Would you make sure
that Helen's got her speech folder?
We've got a few meet-and-greets
in the hall.
-I wanna talk about this internal poll.
-Sue Bowan.
-We sat with you at the NRDC gala.
-Good to see you again.
Why don't you talk
about global warming?
I gave two speeches on it last week.
-I never hear you talk about it.
-Ma'am, this way.
-There you go. Hi.
-People tell me I look exactly like you.
-Like looking in a mirror.
-Good luck, congressman.
I think this internal's really promising.
-Good luck.
-We're third in a three-way race.
-How's that promising?
-The issues, Josh.
We're b*ating Russell and Hoynes
on health care, on education.
No one's covering the issues.
All the press cares about. . .
. . .is polls, process, horserace.
Then we gotta get disciplined
about staying on our message, don't we?
-You remember the Ratners.
-Yes. Hi.
Excuse me.
-You wanna meet the congressman?
-No, I wanna meet you.
-I'm your new finance director.
-You're Hickman.
-The human cash register.
-Call me Paul.
I should call you a cab.
Why are you here?
You should be at a phone bank,
phone-banking.
-I wanted to deliver the news in person.
-Your job's to give me money, not news.
And since we have no money,
I thought I'd opt for news.
By no money, you mean. . .?
So you're going with
the literal meaning.
The Super Tuesday polls
really spooked our big donors.
We're raising on the Internet,
but once we pay the vendors. . .
. . .our cash on hand will
look more like an empty palm.
Give me a couple hours
to figure out a plan.
We'll brief the congressman tonight.
-Mr. Vice President.
-John.
If you wanna drop the formalities.
-I've no intention of dropping them.
-Well, enjoy them while you can.
The most exquisitely tailored
straightjacket known to man.
We're pleased to welcome
Vice President Bob Russell...
...and former Vice President
John Hoynes.
Guy just got endorsed
by the governor of California.
He looks like he's been drinking out
of the reservoir.
I need that education statement
with CBO numbers. . .
. . .not OMB. CBO. Believe it or not,
they aren't interchangeable.
Tell the speechwriters to stop putting
acknowledgements. . .
. . .at the top of speeches. The VP sounds
like he's taking attendance.
-Got a minute?
-No to California.
-Tomorrow?
-At all.
I'm not sure you've heard,
there's a primary there on Tuesday.
Hoynes has the governor
and the state party behind him.
He's spending the weekend there.
We focus on New York and Ohio. . .
-. . .places we can win.
-Not the best time to talk about my job?
Don't go south on me,
at least make it southeast.
No, I love what I'm doing,
master of all tasks.
-Mistress, really.
-Fine. I wonder. . .
. . .if I'm more useful
doing something specific.
Maybe my own issue area.
I've learned these issues sideways.
-Read this out loud.
-lf it's too soon--
Read it out loud.
"Hoynes' plan has wrong priorities
for America.
Tripling funds for character education
while leaving science--"
Could I have the pool over here?
Donna Moss has a statement.
Hi.
Congressman, why are you trailing John
Hoynes among suburban women?
Maybe I don't go around sermonizing
about values--
-Pivot to home base.
-I was about to. I gotta answer first.
Just pivot. "When they
learn about my health-care plan. . .
. . .which moves us step-by-step
to universal coverage. . .
. . .starting with all children,
that gap will close. "
Just talked to Garcia about the rollout
of the La Palabra endorsement.
You realize it's redundant
to say "the" and "la. "
Well, la endorsement is off.
Garcia says la congressman
knows why.
Garcia says La Palabra's off?
He wants me to denounce
the driver's license bill. I wouldn't do it.
It's one of the biggest Latino groups.
This guy is your ticket to--
You gotta call him,
straighten this out.
-You want me out against the bill?
-Wanna come in th in a three-way race?
He's upset, but he won't stiff
the first Latino to run for president.
-I'll go see him in the morning.
-Don't promise anything on the bill.
I'm saying we trailed almost every
country in every area tested last year.
Geometry, computation.
Will that argument blunt Hoynes' surge
in California?
This isn't about blunting,
it's about curing polio.
-We cured polio.
-And let's not be complacent about it.
No one wants to ask
about science education?
-I do.
-You're Bill Brewer.
-I am.
-No questions from Hoynes' advisors.
Too bad. I was gonna ask
how Bob Russell can. . .
. . .turn up his nose
at character education. . .
. . .with parents trying
to pass on values to their kids.
We're focusing on things
like AP physics.
See, this is why Russell
can't b*at Vinick in the fall.
He has no appreciation
of middle-class values.
You rupture an appendix, do you want
a model citizen or a surgeon?
I never said I had
a single-issue appendix.
Thanks, guys.
Honestly, your education plan
is closer to my tastes.
-Really.
-Hoynes is on a values kick lately.
Who wants the government
legislating their kids' values?
Whatever happened to my right
to raise spoiled, selfish little jerks?
So I take it you're single.
-I don't answer hypothetical questions.
-Have a drink with me tonight.
We'll get into specifics.
No.
You work for Hoynes.
It'd be sleeping with the enemy.
Not that we'd actually sleep together.
I just-- You know what I mean.
-So you're the new spokesperson.
-I think this was kind of a tryout.
Nice try.
Governor Tillman was elected
with percent of the Latino vote.
-Popular guy.
- % of Californians think it's wrong. . .
. . .to grant driver's licenses
to people who are here illegally.
-Well, nobody told them there'd be math.
-Thank you.
-Can I take five minutes?
-Yeah, sure.
I don't think you've met
our new finance director.
Phil. Great to meet you.
-It's Paul.
-Call him Hickman.
I'd much rather be called Paul.
Shouldn't he be dialing for dollars
at headquarters?
I'll let him explain why he's here.
Congressman.
-Mrs. Santos.
-Thank you.
As much as the press care
about polls and the horserace. . .
. . .donors care about it more.
Now, winning New Mexico and Arizona
helped, but in the last few weeks. . .
. . .as Hoynes and Russell established
leads in the Super Tuesday states. . .
. . .our fundraising has dried up.
If you look at the second page,
we've made our media buy. . .
. . .but we haven't made outlays
for direct mail. . .
. . .or payroll or field. And that K. . .
. . .that pretty much zeroes out
our cash on hand.
-What about our Internet program?
-That's mostly - and $ checks.
College campuses,
local democratic clubs.
-Low-dollar activity.
-What's the punch line?
If we don't do something to b*at
expectations on Tuesday. . .
. . .I don't see how we can continue
the campaign.
Russell announced
he's not campaigning here.
Cancel the Rhode Island-New York
swing. . .
. . .focus all our resources here
in California.
We can't overtake Hoynes,
but maybe we can squeak by Russell. . .
. . .come in second.
Let's do it.
Great.
If we come in second, you can
raise enough to keep going?
-Most likely.
-And if we don't?
-Burn that bridge when we get to it.
-The Texas primary's in two weeks.
Hickman,
what are my backup options?
Well, none.
Even a bare-bones campaign in Texas
would cost , grand.
-Can we borrow?
-That's illegal.
Election law prohibits borrowing.
-Except from the candidate.
-Technically, that's right.
So technically we can
mortgage our house. . .
-. . .Ioan the money to the campaign.
-Josh is right. Let's burn that--
And plan our Texas campaign
on the back of a napkin?
Congressman, if you took on
that level of personal debt. . .
. . .you'd be paying it off for years.
-The only way you can do that is by--
-By what?
By going back to Congress.
Because no one writes checks
to retired politicians.
Have the lawyers
draw up the mortgage papers.
What, we don't want the papers
as backup?
If we come in second here,
it's moot, right?
-Probably.
-So let's come in second.
-Thank you, congressman.
-Thank you, sir.
Will?
Will?
Will.
Will.
Hoynes wants to colonize Mars
with nonviolent drug offenders.
Recidivism. . . .
It's a.m.
What are you pouring on my head?
I couldn't sleep. Hoynes' issues
director invited me for a drink.
-You pour it on my head.
-I said it was sleeping with the enemy. . .
. . .which I didn't mean literally.
If you're asking
if you should have slept. . .
. . .with the issues director,
do what you want.
Hoynes was supposed to fly
to California. . .
. . .for two policy speeches
in San Diego.
Why would his issues director
be in New York, inviting me for a drink?
The whole sleeping-with-the-enemy
thing?
What if Hoynes won't be in California? A
head-fake so we won't campaign there.
He could've left staff.
He could have a sore throat.
For Super Tuesday, you campaign
from a gurney if you have to.
-Hello.
-Hi, Susan, sorry to wake you.
No, I'm calling from a fishing trawler.
Yes, I know it's in the morning.
I need to know if there's been any
middle-of-the-night change. . .
. . .to Hoynes' schedule,
as silly as that sounds.
He cancelled San Diego....
-Don 't say anything.
-No? Of course. Thanks.
Hoynes cancelled
his San Diego fundraiser.
He's spending a few more hours in
New York. Apparently, it's a sore throat.
Wake up the staff.
If Hoynes isn't going to California. . .
. . .what the hell are we
doing in New York?
-Aren't you gonna say something?
-About what?
Tomorrow's weather forecast?
Seasonably warm. They don't
even have seasons in California.
-It's just a backup.
-This is all about Texas, isn't it?
What, we don't even want a backup?
Don't do this to me.
Here I am,
trapped in a Tammy Wynette medley. . .
. . .like I'm supposed to quash your
ambitions, force you to rake leaves.
-Good. Great.
-Fine. Going back to Congress, Matt?
-It's a worst-case scenario.
-For who? Me? Your kids?
-For what's-his-name? Rickman?
-One two-year term. . .
. . .and we would retire all the debt.
-It's only if we don't come in second.
-Second place.
Like we're betting everything on Papa's
Moustache in the fourth, which we are.
Hey, it's your house too.
Tell me not to, and I won't.
One two-year term and then what?
You won't run for president again?
Tell me not to, and I won't.
Congressman, would you
sign my hernia truss?
-Oh, boy, I don't know--
-No, I manufacture them.
-The th biggest wholesaler in the state.
-Okay.
"Thanks for the support. "
Let's go, congressman,
reporters are waiting.
Come in.
-Mrs. Santos.
-Call me Helen.
You make me sound like a grandmother,
or a shop teacher.
He's doing TV interviews
if you're looking for him.
No, I'm looking for you.
-I wanna talk about--
-Don't sign those loan papers.
There are bad tradeoffs
in this business, but--
Are there bad tradeoffs for the staff?
Those long hours must be dreadful,
and the fast food--
I feel terrible about that meeting.
What chance do we have
of coming in second, Josh?
We have a chance.
What chance?
Pretty small one.
Well, thanks for talking shop.
Where are the reporters?
Satellite interviews.
You hear questions via earpiece.
-Fake window?
-Adds psychological lightness.
-Do they do home installations?
-We're starting with KSEE out of Fresno.
Thank you.
Hi, Lisa. Good to be with you.
There are important things
to focus on, like health care.
I have a plan which moves us
towards universal coverage. . .
-. . .step by step, starting with children.
-KGET, Bakersfield.
When they see my health-care
plan which moves us step by step. . . .
-KNTV, San Jose.
-That's a decision for the governor.
I'm focused on national issues,
like health care.
KSBW, Salinas.
Maybe I better do a better job educating
people about my health-care plan.
I'm sorry, I can't hear the question.
But I will say that one issue at stake
in this election is health care.
Health care.
-Eddie, good to see you.
-Josh, come in.
I have to hand it to you. You've
taught Matt a lot about politics. . .
-. . .in a few short months.
-It took a while to get our sea legs.
More like concrete shoes.
The Matt Santos I knew wouldn't
stay silent for three seconds. . .
-. . .on an anti-immigrant as*ault like this.
-Bob Russell. . .
. . .just came out in favor of the bill.
He's not even campaigning in California.
He could b*at us on this alone.
How do you think voting rights
polled in the s?
-Jim Crow in the s?
-You know the arguments.
People use driver's licenses
to buy g*ns, board airplanes.
Let's come up
with a better form of ID.
-The people are here illegally.
-lf it's illegality. . .
. . .why don't we take
licenses from murderers?
Manson probably still has his.
-Charlie's not tailgating on the .
-lf we don't give these people licenses. . .
. . .you think they're gonna
go back to Mexico?
They'll drive without insurance.
We can't track them.
-It's not the substance of the bill.
-You know the bill is wrong.
Because your old pal Matt Santos
is trying to win in California.
You want him on the losing side
of a lose-Iose issue?
My new pal John Hoynes
has the guts to take the right side.
-Hoynes?
-Promised he'd come out against it. . .
. . .when he campaigns
with the governor tomorrow.
Santos is the first viable Latino
to even enter a presidential.
-We both know you're endorsing him.
-Not unless he takes a stand. . .
. . .in his speech to La Palabra.
The governor needs cover to veto this.
If Hoynes provides it,
we'll endorse him.
Having a Latino president doesn't
advance the Latino cause?
If he doesn't stand up for Latinos?
You have taught him
how to live by the polls. . .
. . .but when you're off
on the next campaign. . .
. . .he's the one who's gotta live
with himself.
-Yeah.
-It's Josh.
I'm reading that new biography
of James Madison.
-Know what his dying words were?
-"I always talk better lying down. "
Rough time to learn that.
How's it going?
We're stuck in third place, so we're
moving all our money to California.
Our base thinks we've sold them out,
and Helen Santos thinks I'm playing. . .
. . .presidential primary Parcheesi
with her kids' college tuition.
-So about the same as minutes ago.
-The middle thing's new.
So Santos was reading our internals
on the plane last night.
-"Politician Reads Polls," film at .
-He barely looked at them before.
You've been complaining
about that for months.
I know, but the guy's
playing this to win.
Even when the numbers
make you wanna. . .
-. . .lie down.
-It's your job to doubt.
It's his job to believe.
Just don't let him
do anything too loopy.
I'll call you later.
The site diagram
for the education event.
I'm assuming from these arrows,
I'm going for a touchdown.
We've got fixed
camera positions here.
So if you stay here,
the kids are always in the cutaway sh*t.
-Good because. . .?
-Doesn't matter how the press report it.
They can trash the whole event.
If those kids are visible from
every position, it'll scream "education. "
-Sorry I'm late. Did you already--?
-We're screaming at camera positions.
-Thanks, Bram.
-Yeah.
La Palabra wants to endorse Hoynes.
-Hoynes?
-He promised to denounce. . .
. . .the driver's license bill side by side
with the governor. Let's b*at him to it.
If I denounce it,
it's a seven-second sound bite.
-"Latino comes out for Latinos. "
-Better than "Latino ignores Latinos. "
It would play into
the Republicans' hands.
You said it yourself. No one would hear
anything else I would have to say.
It's a bad bill.
You should be who you are.
I was wrong to push
the politics on this.
I'm not taking a position.
Garcia's serious about going
with Hoynes.
Maybe he should be.
And not for nothing, Josh.
Garcia can tell me if he thinks I'm
not Latino enough. You can't, okay?
-Who is it?
-Donna, from the Russell campaign.
You know, the "character
doesn't count" people?
Can I interest you in a drink?
They say Manhattan has
the champagne of tap waters.
-I'm not decent.
-I could have told you that yesterday.
I'm busy cooking up ways to legislate
your spoiled kids into submission.
-I have to have the kids first.
-Is that a pickup line?
It needs a lot of work.
-You're not packed for California.
-There's some kind of delay.
I'm not really sure what.
Hey, housekeeping's a phone call away.
They got the filet mignon
of maid service here.
He's just canceled his first policy
speech, and Brewer's not packed.
Why would he be working on
a press statement if--?
Slow down.
I'll lend you some punctuation.
Hoynes is still here. I don't think he's
going to California at all. We should.
We can't take this to the VP
unless we're percent sure.
Get the press to call him on it. They're
buying this sore throat nonsense?
If we can't interest them in our
education plan, what about this?
-Created a monster.
-Bad idea?
No. Good idea.
That's what worries me.
Allesandra?
Got a teensy little tip for the paper of
record. Don't you think it's strange. . .
. . .that Hoynes lays out this big California
strategy, then fails to show up for it?
Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Santos.
Bye.
-Congressman. Congressman Santos.
-Mr. Santos.
Don't you think the governor
should sign the driver's license bill?
Won't that deny Vinick the issue?
Not enough kids read at grade level.
We need higher standards. . .
-. . .accountability in schools.
-Pivoting like a pro.
Are you worried that you're
in third place in polls?
If our kids don't read at grade level, how
are they gonna understand these polls?
Cutaway sh*t was perfect. Home run.
-They say it's his throat.
-You guys are journalists.
-Unless you've a throat swab--
-Go over this again.
Vice President Russell
was going to campaign in California.
Then the governor endorsed Hoynes,
Hoynes practically moved there.
Now that we canceled our trip,
Hoynes is holed up in New York. . .
. . .canceling his California events
left and right.
-What's he up to?
-Do I look like an investigative reporter?
The answer is, "I do not. "
Why don't you go do your jobs?
Go.
Are we doing enough free media
in the Los Angeles schedule?
There's a story in New York. Hoynes
might not be coming to California.
-Not at all?
-That's the rumor.
His whole itinerary was a fake out
so that Russell wouldn't campaign here.
Hoynes puts California in the bank,
dukes it out with Russell back East.
-lf he doesn't come--
-He takes no stand on the license bill. . .
. . .doesn't keep his promise to Garcia.
We've got about. . .
. . .five of our reporters working on it.
He may be trying to draw us out.
Latino comes out for Latinos and Hoynes
att*cks us on immigration and terrorism.
-Maybe.
-So Matt's the only candidate. . .
. . .who is here in California,
and yet he's in third place.
How many reporters did you say
we have on this story?
-Five?
-About.
-Let's try and make it .
-We're ready for takeoff.
Hoynes has a cold.
He'll be flying to California.
Why not rest on the plane?
-His gambit's looking like a shell game.
-John Hoynes is not a gambling man.
You shake hands with every
vendor in Manhattan. . .
. . .see if you don't come home
with a great big germ cocktail.
I'd love to chat.
I've gotta sit in my room. . .
. . .and wait for your next
hectoring phone call.
Find out what in Jane's name
we're still doing in New York City?
A full and a half minutes.
Where you been?
Who cares if Russell's making hay
by saying illegals shouldn't get licenses?
Who cares if Hoynes
thrashes us on it?
Don't we score points
for opposing public opinion?
He's not wrong.
He'll marginalize himself.
Latino backs Latinos, dog bites man,
Madison takes a nap.
But now the guy's talking about
mortgaging his house. . .
. . .stirring up the press
about Hoynes. . .
...muzzling himself on issues
he cares about.
And for what,
the vain hope of a silver medal?
I've seen this in tons of candidates.
Ride's almost over.
They wanna hang on.
The crowds, the adrenaline.
You wait...
-...he'll even miss the bad headlines.
-You think it's almost over?
I think you've done a remarkable job.
I think you've taken a junior House
nobody and made him a national brand. . .
. . .a contender
for the vice presidency, even.
-He still believes he can win.
-It's his job to believe.
If he keeps believing, it's because--
He got it from me. He believes it,
because I hammered it into him.
-Josh.
-I'll call you later.
-Have you seen CNN?
-There's reporters in Hoynes' hotel.
-I sent half of them there.
-...healthy lead here in the polls.
Shouldn't Santos be doing
meet-and-greets?
They're signing loan papers.
-Some are wondering if Hoynes...
-You gave him the papers?
-...has canceled his tour.
-Her. Helen. She asked for them.
I don't suppose in addition to your
many skills you're a notary public.
Don't sign those.
We won't send them to the bank
unless we have to.
Just wanna make sure. . .
-. . .we're covered for Texas.
-It's your financial future.
Which is why we're
gonna come in second.
We can't.
There's no chance.
-I'm sorry.
-We've got Hoynes. . .
-. . .in New York.
-We won't win the nomination.
I made myself believe it.
You too. But you can't
risk everything for this.
You should go to La Palabra. . .
. . .make a strong statement against
the driver's license bill. You should. . .
. . .remember who your friends are,
not some names on an index card. . .
. . .but the people you're going back to.
And then you should take a bow. . .
. . .and you should step off the stage.
You know, when I got out
of the Marines. . .
. . .I hadn't been in my neighborhood
in Houston in a few years.
I had just gotten this job offer
from the Pentagon. . .
. . .and it required a full
FBI background check.
After a few weeks,
the investigators came to me. . .
. . .and said,
"We can't give you the job.
We've interviewed all your
old friends and neighbors.
They can't confirm anything,
not even your name. "
So I hop a plane,
go back to the old block.
I see my neighbor's
- and -year-old kids.
They're sitting on the stoop,
same as always.
They see me,
they start running towards me. . .
. . .and they're shouting, " Tio Matt! "
"Uncle Matt. "
" Tio Matt, the feds,
they were here looking for you.
We told them we never heard of you. "
Eleven and .
You're not the only one
who can read bad polls, Josh.
I am running for president
in that Texas primary. . .
. . .and those kids
are gonna see me do that.
That's the only statement
about my skin color. . .
. . .I intend to make in this campaign.
-lf you need a minute--
-I'm fine.
You met Richter in Portland.
He's on DNC site selection.
-His son's a--
-Math major at Princeton.
When you asked our chances before. . .
. . .you wanted to make sure
the loan was ready if we lost here.
Something's happened to Hoynes.
-There he is!
-Mr. Hoynes! Mr. Hoynes!
-Excuse me. I need him for one second.
-Yeah, I got five more supporters there.
--featuring an exclusive interview...
... with the former Senate staffer,
claiming that then Senator Hoynes...
...made inappropriate
sexual advances toward her...
... which is bad news to the Hoynes
campaign so close to Super Tuesday.
--woman in question was still
a Georgetown senior at the time...
... the daughter of a prominent
Hoynes supporter.
The campaign spent the day in New York
urging the tabloid not to run the story...
...excerpts of which appeared
all over the Internet....
--believed such allegations
were all in the past.
-A spokesman for Hoynes says....
-We just went from third to second.
--that he is temporarily suspending
his campaign.
Tell the spokespeople Hoynes is dead.
We're even with Russell.
-Is that true?
-It could be.
There's no way to poll
till the voting starts.
Anything from the governor?
He's not discussing
a new endorsement.
He can't stick with Hoynes.
It's a tabloid nightmare.
Tell him Santos
is a candidate for president.
If that doesn't even warrant
a phone call. . . . Go, go, go.
Thank you. Good to see you.
-Watch your hands.
-What's the schedule?
We've gotten press requests,
all about Hoynes' overcharged libido.
-Ride the story?
-We're not riding nor spinning it.
The press loves it, but voters don't.
Accept as many press requests
as possible.
-Isn't that--?
-We have a message.
It's health care and education.
It's the only way he beats Russell.
-Every question will be about Hoynes.
-But none of the answers.
-Donna! Donna!
-I had no idea about the Senate staffers.
You've been pushing this.
You know something.
He locks himself in a hotel room.
He could be shaving his legs.
How am I supposed to know
what he's doing?
We're gonna be in California
in a few hours.
Nothing we can do on driver's licenses.
We've come out in favor of the bill.
Hoynes is an embarrassment.
Santos is a footnote.
Governor, the vice president
needs you on this.
You wanted to see me, sir?
I'm sorry your name is in these stories.
You had no idea what this was about.
-No.
-They're just filling column inches.
If I believed everything they wrote about
me, I'd be voting for Pat Paulsen again.
That was a joke.
I never voted for Pat Paulsen.
-Will's talking to California's governor.
-I wouldn't call him myself.
-The allegations are nobody's business.
-Yes, sir.
-You don't agree?
-For it to be none. . .
. . .of our business, he shouldn't
have talked about character education.
Set a standard, you have to meet it.
The governor won't take
endorsement meetings.
He's yanking support from Hoynes,
and feeling b*rned by primary politics.
We lead in California,
but Santos has been there three days.
We won't be there
for another three hours.
If the governor endorses him,
I don't know what'll happen.
You have to call the governor yourself.
Make sure he endorses you. . .
. . .or no one at all.
Get the governor on the line.
How we doing?
We shut down all our field offices. . .
. . .squeezed money
to air more health-care spots.
Our surrogates are blanketing
every media outlet.
Unless your tongue's got repetitive
stress injuries--
-Keep scheduling interviews.
-He's never had so much coverage.
It's either the sex scandal
or my plan for premium reductions.
-The governor?
-He's not taking political meetings.
Looks like he's not endorsing anyone.
This guy could've single-handedly
delivered labor, the county organizations.
What if we told him we don't
want a political meeting?
What do we meet about,
citrus futures?
The party platform,
Australian parliament.
I'll walk his dog
for five minutes with him.
What about the driver's license bill?
-You know this meeting can't be public?
-All I need is a little leg room.
I can't turn on a TV
without seeing you. . .
. . .spout the same three lines
about health care.
You ought to mix it up a bit.
Six and a half million Californians
don't have health insurance.
They'd rather hear
about Hoynes' boxers?
Hoynes looked me in the eye
and told me all the womanizing had. . .
-. . .been flogged to death by the press.
-It had.
Those staffers were paid for their story.
They were paid by a dime-store tabloid.
If we don't give the hordes
what they want, they find a way.
Well, I look like an idiot. And I've
got hordes outside my office now.
I scheduled this meeting to talk
about the driver's license bill.
My understanding is that Hoynes
promised La Palabra that he'd oppose it.
He made that promise to me.
The state Republicans timed this bill. . .
. . .to wreak havoc
in the Democratic primaries.
I want a future in the party too.
You think I'd single-handedly blow our
chance to b*at Vinick in the fall?
What if I was there with you?
I told Russell I'm not
going to endorse anybody.
And you wouldn't say one word against
that bill till you needed my support.
I'm not gonna say
a word against it now.
-And I'm not looking for your support.
-You're not?
You veto the bill. . .
. . .I'll be there standing
right behind you.
All the words will be your own. . .
. . .in front of about cameras,
all going live.
You'd be tagged with my veto
without a bite on the news.
-Right.
-Are you so desperate. . .
. . .for the appearance of my support
that you'd stand behind me. . .
. . .while I strike down a bill
that you don't oppose?
I think the bill is an abomination.
We need to toughen
our immigration laws. . .
. . .make our borders times
more secure.
But if we're not really willing
to do that. . .
. . .it's wrong to punish the people
we bring here to pick our avocados.
But why don't you just come out
and say that?
Because people don't need to hear it
from someone who looks like me.
They need to hear it from someone
who looks like you.
-Governor!
-Governor!
Moments ago, I vetoed SB- ,
the so-called "driver's license bill. "
We have security problems in this
country. We have immigration problems.
We need to address them.
But we shouldn't prevent
the poorest working people. . .
. . .the people who are here anyway,
from making a living.
It may make us feel better,
but it doesn't solve the problem.
Thank you.
Oh, I'd show you all the veto pen. . .
. . .but I've already given it
to Congressman Matt Santos.
-Governor!
-Governor!
-Hoynes. Any comment?
-Know what you should write about?
The . million Californians
who don't have health coverage.
You ought to ask Matt Santos
about that.
-Congressman!
-Congressman!
I agree with Governor Tillman
percent.
Thanks.
And don't forget to vote,
no matter who you vote for.
Oh, what the hell? Vote for me.
-That's it, guys.
-Okay, we're good.
-What's next?
-Besides the mother of all lozenges?
-He's done interviews today.
-That is the last one.
California polls are closing.
Russell's won New York, Connecticut. . .
. . .Rhode Island and Vermont.
Hoynes is crumbling everywhere.
We don't know about California yet.
Thanks.
-What's this?
-It's a campaign plan for Texas.
I'll sell my own house if I have to.
-You'd be going to federal prison.
-Yeah, well. . .
. . .need to live someplace, won't I?
I can tell you
that it's been a long day.
A tough, close fight here in a state that
usually don 't see such primary action.
-We got an exit poll.
-I've never seen numbers like this.
They need a margin of error
for the margin of error.
We're moments away from calling
what has been a dogfight...
...between Vice President Bob Russell
and Congressman Matthew Santos.
So we urge you to stay by the TV.
In just a moment....
-While Santos has maintained...
-I need you guys for one second.
...his solid support
in both the African-American...
...and Latino communities, Bob Russell
has actually picked up points....
-We've received the latest exit polls.
-Will you give us a second?
On the strength of these numbers,
we'll call the race.
-What is it?
-What?
-We have a winner of the California....
-We won California.
--and it is Congressman
Matthew Santos.
He's calling it.
We've got a few quick clutches
on our way to the ballroom.
Steve Gilbert, co-chair for L.A. Son's big
in the college Dems. Congratulations.
-This is unexpected. How do you. . .?
-Congressman Santos!
You're the experts on the horserace. . .
. . .but maybe folks took a look
at my health-care plan.
-What about the Hoynes situation?
-I can't comment.