Political Equinox

As we edge closer and closer (hopefully) to having a Democratic presidential nominee, I cannot believe how close this election cycle has (so far) ran to perhaps the greatest TV series of all timeÖIím talking of course of the West Wing, the a series that garnered both critical and public support in its storied 7 season run.

The last two seasons of the show dealt with (primarily) the decision of who would become the next president after the much beloved Democrat Josiah Bartlet left office.

This is where the show and reality overlap. In the show on the Democratic side there are two primary candidates ñ Vice President Bob Russell and Congressman Matt Santos. Russell represented the party establishment choice, yet his lack of charisma and overall charm made him a difficult candidate for moderates to embrace. Santos, a minority, was the definition of charismatic yet found the ëexperienceí argument something difficult to overcome.

Halfway through the primary contest the Republicans coalesced around a moderate senator from California, Arnold Vinick. Vinick is old, considered a ëmaverickí and a ëstraight talkerí, but also has a testy relationship with the religious right.

The Democrats battle down to the wire, with no candidate winning the required number of delegates to be nominated at the Democratic National Convention. Santos and Russell nitpicked at each other and spent an exorbitant amount of money and time fighting tooth and nail over every single state.

Ösound familiar?

I am not going to go on too much longer, but there are other potential similarities between the series and real life that may play out.

1. Another politician, Pennsylvania Governor Eric Baker, widely considered the front runner before the race began attempted to get nominated on the floor. Delegates are only beholden to their candidates for the first vote ñ after that, its open season. Baker, in the name of ëparty unityí threw his name in the ring ñ exacerbating the already contentious situation.

2. Santos, who is the eventual nominee, must pick a party stalwart and man of experience in order to win. Vinick must pick a young conservative with impeccable conservative credentials.

In almost all situations, replace the name ëSantosí with ëObamaí, ëRussellí with ëClintoní, ëVinickí with ëMcCainí and ëBakerí with ëGoreí and you pretty much have the presidential election process in a nutshell.