"What the hell was that?" Ainsley demanded, striding angrily into the living room of Ray Sullivan's hotel suite. The campaign was still in Ohio, preparing for a second event that afternoon. She was furious over the governor's press conference the previous day. Either he'd guessed that she would react that way, or her staff had warned him that she was upset, because he'd been doing his best to avoid her. This was the first time since it had happened that she'd been allowed to speak with him.
"Good morning, Ainsley."
"Good morning, governor. I'll repeat my question. What the hell was that?"
"What was what?"
"You know very well what." Her eyes flashed with anger. "Let's get one thing straight right now. I consider questions about my qualifications to be legitimate and fair. As a woman and as a Republican, I am offended by the insinuation that it's not, that our political opponents should treat me differently and pull their punches, presumably because I'm a weak woman who will wilt at any criticism."
"Ainsley-"
"You're the sexist if that's your attitude! We're Republicans. I thought we were supposed to be against affirmative action. And what is affirmative action, if not giving certain groups of people special treatment based on their identity?"
"Ainsley-"
"And furthermore…" her voice trailed off momentarily as she collected her thoughts. "Furthermore, how could you put out a statement like that on my behalf, without asking me or even telling me about it in advance?"
He looked at her calmly. "Are you done?"
She frowned. "Yes."
"Ainsley, this is politics, nothing else. Of course we want to protect you from criticism if we can, just like we'd want to protect any VP candidate we chose. So yeah, we're going to use any tool at our disposal, including gender if need be, to accomplish that."
"It's demeaning, Governor. It sends a message that women are frail, that we can't withstand the same type of scrutiny that men in politics have to undergo. It's sleazy, dirty campaigning at its worst."
"So you'd rather we run a squeaky-clean campaign that ends up putting Eric Baker in the White House?"
"I don't accept that those are our only two options."
Ray sighed. "Look, this is just how things are done. It's like during the campaign last year. We couldn't say a word against Matt Santos without being accused of discriminating against Mexicans. Hispanics. Latinos. Whatever the politically correct term is these days," he amended as he caught a strange glance from Ainsley.
"Santos never went there and you know it."
No, he didn't have to. His buddies in the liberal media were happy to do it for him." He paused. "Besides, yes he did. During the debate, he accused Arnie of bringing up immigration issues because he was running against a Latino."
"Well, he was only stating the obvious in that instance." Ainsley paused. "And believe me, governor, if and when honest-to-God sexism rears its ugly head in this campaign, I will be the first person to call it out. But by recklessly throwing around bogus accusations of sexism, you are only making it that much harder for women who have been discriminated against to be taken seriously."
"Okay, okay," he sighed. "It won't happen again."
They were interrupted by a knock at the door, and Bob Mayer walked into the suite.
"Good news!" He handed some papers to Ray. "Overnight polling on Ainsley: 76% of registered voters have a positive opinion of her. 65% say she shares their values. 58% say she's qualified to be Vice President, as opposed to only 21% who say she's not. Best of all," he grinned, "When informed of Sam Seaborn's remarks about Ainsley, 69% said they thought he was unduly harsh, and 23% said they considered it sexist."
"That 23% sounds suspiciously like approximately the same percentage of the population that represents the die-hard Republican base, making their opinions probably less than objective, "Ainsley commented dryly.
"Who cares?" Ray was visibly thrilled. He turned back to Bob. "Leak these numbers to the media right away. This is fantastic. Man, can you imagine what these numbers would be like if our damn news cycle hadn't been stepped on by Tom Kelsey's arrest?"
"Yes, the bringing to justice of an assassin who may very well have been responsible for Arnold Vinick's death as well as the President-Elect's certainly was a bummer for our campaign," Ainsley retorted.
Ray suddenly looked uncomfortable. "I'm just talking about the timing, that's all. Of course I'm glad they caught him."
Bob turned to Ainsley. "Anyway, we've put a few lines about the Seaborn controversy-"
"The manufactured Seaborn controversy-" she shot back.
"The brilliantly manufactured Seaborn controversy," Bob reiterated with a smile. "We've put a few lines about the controversy in your stump speech."
She frowned. "What do you want me to say?"
He handed her a piece of paper, and she read from it aloud. "I know there are plenty of people out there who don't think a young, somewhat unorthodox woman, who hasn't spent her entire life seeking political power for herself, could possibly hold the office of Vice President. That's okay. I'm used to being underestimated. But I promise you now, those who underestimate me will live to regret it." She sighed. "Fine."
"Good," Bob nodded crisply. "Anyway, we have to be in the motorcade in fifteen minutes."
"We'll meet you there," Ray told him.
"So you're okay with that line?" Ray asked after Bob had left.
She sighed. "It's fine."
"Because you don't have to say it if you don't want to. I can tell Bob to have it taken out of the speech."
She shrugged. She wasn't thrilled with the line, but she supposed it wasn't too outrageous, considering. "This is a campaign. I'll say it."
"Thanks." Ray nodded. "And look…I'm sorry. You were absolutely right. I should have talked to you before giving that press conference."
"Thank you."
He was quiet for a moment. "I have a confession to make."
"What?"
"What I said…it wasn't really only about politics."
"It wasn't?"
"No."
"What else was it about?"
"Well…the bottom line is, I like you. I respect you and I admire you. You're bright, charismatic, talented…I'm so proud to have you on the ticket. And when I heard what Sam Seaborn said, I really just got mad. I felt like I had to stand up for you."
She gave him a skeptical look. "You've been in politics for decades. You really expect me to believe your skin is that thin?"
"Not when it comes to me. I don't care what people say about me. But when stuff gets said about people I like…well, that's one part of this business I don't think I'll ever get used to."
She felt herself flush slightly. Despite herself, she couldn't help but feel flattered by his praise. "That's nice of you to say, governor."
He touched her shoulder warmly. "If we win this election, it'll be because of you as much as because of me."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Hey, you look familiar," Danny smiled as CJ sat down across from him at the restaurant table. She had called and asked to meet him for dinner following her conversation with Sam and Donna. She would have to be back at the White House in an hour to help with final prep for the President's press conference, but she really needed to talk to Danny now.
"Hi, Danny.'
"Tall, pretty, shoulder-length brown hair…I know I've seen you before."
"Yeah, yeah, very funny. I don't know if you've been keeping up with the news since you left the Post, but I've been kind of busy."
"I know. I'm just giving you a hard time. I miss you."
"I miss you too."
The waiter arrived and took their drink orders, bringing them a basket of warm cornbread muffins.
"These look fantastic," CJ commented, taking one and spreading some butter on it. "I skipped lunch. For that matter, I think I may have skipped breakfast, too."
"So why'd you call me?" Danny asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I barely hear a word from you for a month, and then all of a sudden you call and want to meet for dinner."
"I told you I miss you. You don't believe me?"
"I do. I just don't think that's the only reason you called."
"I'm really that obvious?"
"Frankly? Yeah."'
She sighed. "I had a meeting with Sam Seaborn and Donna Moss today."
"From the Baker campaign?"
"They want me to run for Vice President." She decided not to mince words.
Danny stared at her for a moment, looking impressed. "Vice President."
"Yeah."
"Wow. That's great."
"You think?"
"You don't?"
"I don't know. I don't…I just don't think it's what I want right now. It's really not. I want to move to California and take Frank Hollis up on his offer. I want to help build highways in Africa. I'm so beyond done with politics."
"I understand."
"I mean, I would have told them no on the spot, but I just felt, as a courtesy, that I should agree to think about it overnight."
"Mmm Hmm," Danny nodded. "So then why did you need to have dinner with me all of a sudden?"
"I was hungry?" He held her gaze, and she sighed. "I don't know. I guess I just thought I might as well get an objective second opinion."
"And you thought I'd be objective? You don't think I have a vested interest in moving out to California with you, spending time with you on warm beaches in the winter, and getting to know you as something other than a press secretary and a chief of staff, with me as a reporter and therefore a member of the enemy camp in your eyes?"
"So you don't want me to do it."
"I absolutely do not want you to do it. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't."
She shook her head. "Danny…"
"I mean, we're talking about you possibly being Vice President of the United States."
"Which, as the saying goes, is an office that's not worth a warm bucket of spit."
"Yeah. Except that's bull, and you know it."
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is. Look, CJ, here's what I think. Frankly, whether you accept Baker's offer or not, chances are Sullivan is going to win."
She stared at him in disbelief. "So you're saying I should accept the offer on the assumption that we won't win, anyway?"
"No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is this. If you accept the offer, whether Baker wins or loses, I'm predicting right now that you are the next Democratic nominee for President of the United States."
Her mouth went dry. "I…I don't think necessarily…"
"I do. Think about it, CJ: the first woman President. You." He was quiet for a moment. "That's what we're talking about here, I think."
"This is ridiculous," she shook her head. "You're right: we'll lose. Baker's going to lose, and then I'll be branded a loser. I won't be known as CJ Cregg, former White House Chief of Staff. I'll be CJ Cregg, failed vice presidential candidate."
Danny smiled slightly. "You want to do it, though, don't you?"
"How did you get that from what I said?"
"Your face is turning red. You're stammering a little."
"It would make me an awful person, wouldn't it? Turning down noble, humanitarian work for something like this?"
"If Sullivan wins, I'm sure Hollis's offer would still be available."
"Once again, I'm not going to run on the assumption that we won't win."
"I know. I'm just being realistic. CJ, look, you're still a relatively young woman. Regardless what happens in this election or the next few elections, you're going to have your whole life to do humanitarian work, whether it's for Hollis or someone else. That door is always going to wide open for you. But this: running for Vice President, positioning yourself for a Presidential run – believe me when I tell you, that's the kind of opportunity that usually doesn't come around more than once. And what you need to decide, I think, is whether that's something you want to do in your life. If it's not, turn Baker down. But if it is, the time is now, and I think you have to seize the moment."
"I don't know," she sighed and put her head in her hands. "I was so sure Hollis's offer was what I wanted."
"Well, you have the night to think about it. I know you'll make the right decision. But I do have to say: I think you're getting better at this relationship thing."
"I just love it when you patronize me."
"I know."
"What do you mean I'm getting better at it?"
"You're talking to me. You have a big career decision to make, and rather than just stewing about it on your own, you're talking it over with your boyfriend. I like that. And I really do like hearing the sound of your voice."
She blushed slightly, and he leaned across the table and gave her a kiss.
"I'm going to have to take Baker's offer, aren't I?"
"You don't have to. But if you want to…" He paused, looking at her thoughtfully for a moment. "Maybe being White House Chief of Staff won't be the first line of your obituary after all."