Chapter 2
Todd Jamison knew California politics; he was ‘plugged in’ as they say in the world of
politics. He knew the players, he knew the landscape, both literally and metaphorically,
and he had planned the filing day photo op to the last detail…almost.
Ainsley and 3 month old Caitlin stood picture perfect at Sam’s side when he made his
announcement and took questions from the assembled press.
“Do you anticipate that you’ll have a serious challenge by any of the current Democratic
rivals for the nomination?” A reporter asked.
“I expect that I’ll have to earn the nomination by addressing the issues and proving myself
here. I’m glad to see that there are so many serious contenders for the nomination; it
makes us stronger for the general in the fall.” Sam replied smiling.
“Is either former President Bartlet or President Santos going to come out and stump for
you?” Another journalist asked.
“I’m sure they will both be stumping for whoever wins the nomination, but they won’t be
stumping for anyone until the nomination is won. I want to win on my own merits.” Sam
explained.
“How is your family adjusting to living in California?” Came another question.
“I’ve kept my residence here over the years and Ainsley and I have spent a lot of time
here, but this is Caitlin’s first trip. As you can see, she’s incredibly impressed.” Sam
gestured to the sleeping baby in his wife’s arms while reporters chuckled and
photographers snapped pictures.
“Mrs. Seaborn, are you looking forward to pulling voting for your husband in the
primary?” Came a question from the back.
Ainsley chomped down on the urge to correct the reporter; her legal name was Ainsley
Hayes-Seaborn, but she didn’t think this was the time to point that out. This was about
Sam. “Yes, I’m looking forward to it very much.” Ainsley noted.
“Our latest information is that you’re a registered Republican. When are you going to be
changing your party affiliation?”
“I don’t need to change my party affiliation to vote for my husband.” Ainsley replied and
there was a murmur throughout the crowd.
“Your husband is running for the Democratic nomination for Governor.”
“Yes.” Ainsley answered. “And I’m a Republican.”
“Mr. Seaborn, what does it say about your persuasive skills that you can’t get your own
wife to switch parties?”
“Mrs. Seaborn, have you ever voted for a Democrat before?”
Mrs. Seaborn, how do you expect to convince others to vote for the Democratic nominee
when you won’t even change your party affiliation?”
Ainsley felt the train running away from her and looked over at Sam, who in turn looked
over at Todd Jamison.
“That’s it for now. The Seaborns have an appointment. Thanks for coming out today.” He
ushered the Seaborn family into a waiting car, keeping his smile firmly in place until they
drove away.
“You’re not going to switch your party affiliation? Are you crazy? You’re in California now.”
Jamison exploded.
“Todd, you know Ainsley is a Republican.” Sam disputed.
“Yes, but I assumed she would switch her affiliation once you moved here.” Todd shot
back.
“You assumed wrong.” Ainsley replied hotly, venting the pent up anger at being blind
sided towards Jamison. He’d never brought that up when they had discussed the
announcement.
“I don’t think you understand the implications of that in this race.” Jamison explained.
“You have to reconsider. You have to switch parties.”
“I have to what?” Ainsley repeated.
“Todd, I think this is a conversation that needs to be between Ainsley and me.” Sam
interrupted before his wife committed murder in the 2nd degree.
“Have it today. Now. It’s a deal breaker for me.” Todd noted before he got out of the car
when they reached his office.
“I’m not switching parties, Sam.” Ainsley said quietly.
“I know.” He replied and had the pleasure of seeing her head whip around in surprise.
“But Todd is right; it’s going to be an issue. We need a response so that we’re not re-
hashing this issue continuously.”
“You have something like that up your sleeve, do you?” Ainsley asked.
“No, but I know someone who does.” Sam smiled and right on cue, his cell phone rang.
“Here’s what it is.” Josh laid it out once Sam had put him on speakerphone. “When asked
why you haven’t been able to persuade your wife to switch parties, you respond ‘Having
an ‘in house’ Republican point of view has helped me bridge the gap between parties
when I worked in the White House and it will no doubt be invaluable to me as Governor’.”
“You’re pretty good at this.” Sam told him. “You should think about going into politics.”
“Nah, it’s a filthy business.” Josh replied. “How you doing over there Ainsley?”
“About now, I’m thinking about whose idea this whole thing was and planning appropriate
retribution to the party responsible.” Ainsley’s sharp tone made Josh pale even though
he was a continent away.
“You looked great on TV.” Josh offered. “I can’t believe Caitlin slept through the whole
thing. You didn’t drug her or anything did you? That kind of thing doesn’t go over well
with the electorate.”
“Thanks for the tip. When are you coming out here? I only ask because I’m afraid that
either Ainsley or Todd is going to end up in traction very soon.” Sam noted.
“Excuse me?” Ainsley turned a look on Sam.
“I’m afraid Todd is going to end up in traction very soon.” Sam corrected.
“He knows California politics better than anyone else on our list.” Josh reminded him.
“But he doesn’t know us.” Sam added. “I think that might be a more important factor at
this point. It doesn’t feel like a good match.”
Josh mulled this over for a bit. “I’ve got another name, but I didn’t put it on the list
because the guys a bit of a maverick.”
“Who is it?” Sam asked.
“Peyton Forbes.” Josh said quickly.
“Peyton Forbes?!” Sam repeated. “He’s the one you called a California nut!”
“A successful nut.” Josh pointed out.
“Successful at getting issues passed on referendums. Has he ever worked specifically for
a candidate before?”
“He’s unconventional, just like you and Ainsley. I’ll have him come over and meet you.
You can form your own opinion.” Josh offered.
“Fine, but don’t promise him anything, Josh.” Sam insisted.
“No, of course not.” Josh replied.
***********************************
“Hi, I’m Sam Seaborn.” Sam offered his hand to the man standing outside his front door.
“Peyton Forbes. Pleased to meet you; really pleased. When I got a call from Josh Lyman
asking me to work your campaign, I was beside myself. What an honor! What an
opportunity!” Peyton shook Sam’s hand enthusiastically even as Sam winced at Peyton’s
interpretation of Josh’s call.
Peyton Forbes was what most people would call quintessential California. Dressed in
business casual, a t-shirt under a summer weight suit jacket and dark jeans, sporting
dark sunglasses and tousled hair with blond highlights, he sauntered into the Seaborn
home and surveyed his surroundings.
“Great place you’ve got here.” Peyton pronounced.
“Thanks. We like it.” Sam replied as Ainsley came in to join them.
“Ah. The incomparable Ainsley Hayes-Seaborn.” Peyton took her hand and kissed it. “I’m
a big fan.”
“Really?” Ainsley asked looking over Peyton’s shoulder to meet Sam’s eyes.
“I’ve watched your political commentary for years.” He gushed.
“Given your choice of causes that you’ve championed I find it hard to believe you’ve
agreed with anything I’ve said in terms of political commentary.” Ainsley said suspiciously.
“Agreed with you? God, no; it’s a load of right wing bullshit, but so cleverly delivered with
such style and wit. It was always entertaining.” Peyton continued and Ainsley’s eyebrows
shot up.
“Ummm..have a seat.” Sam suggested and the three of them sat down. “I assume Josh
filled you in on what we’re looking for?”
“A bit, just a bit.” Peyton hedged.
“We’ve been working with Todd Jamison, but we’re not sure it’s the best match for us.”
Sam leveled. “He seems to think that Ainsley’s party affiliation is going to be a major
stumbling block here.”
“Look, the man knows how to get people elected in California, there’s no doubt of that,
but every candidate he works for…it’s like they’ve all come out of the same cookie cutter,
you know? It’s as if he figured out a formula for winning here and he never strays from it.
He’s got no vision.” Peyton explained.
“And you do, I suppose.” Ainsley drawled.
“That I’ve got in spades. I’ve also learned how to mobilize Californians.” Peyton bragged.
“When the immigration referendum got on the ballot during the last cycle we used the
internet, local radio and television, as well as grass roots door knocking to defeat it on a
shoestring budget.”
“Your issues work has been very successful.” Sam acknowledged. “However, managing a
single candidate is a whole different thing.”
“Not so different. You find the arguments for and pro-actively counter the arguments
against while getting out your message. It’s just all about a person instead of a piece of
legislation. I can do this. I WANT to do this.” Peyton assured them.
“Why?” Sam asked curiously.
“I’m thinking that with the right person in the Governor’s office, getting the issues
addressed that I care about so much might get a little easier. You’re that person. The two
of you together? You could do incredible things for California.” Peyton said sincerely just
as Caitlin began to cry in her porta-crib.
Sam walked over to pick her up, buying a little time. He knew it wouldn’t work with
Jamison, but Peyton Forbes? Okay, so he didn’t come across as flamboyant in person as
he did on television, but he’d never run a candidate before. Sam picked up his tiny
daughter and walked back to Peyton and Ainsley.
“If you were running this; how would you want to respond to the whole party affiliation
issue?” Sam asked while he jiggled in place with Caitlin on his shoulder. Peyton stood up
and walked closer to Sam and Caitlin.
“May I?” Peyton asked indicating the baby. Sam hesitated, then handed his daughter to
Forbes. Peyton swayed back and forth cooing to the little girl until she settled. Then he
looked over at Sam and Ainsley and spoke quietly to them. “I wouldn’t handle it, or
downplay it, I’d build on it. You have a smart, articulate wife, who has a mind of her own.
She’s going to bring independents to the table and maybe even some liberal
Republicans. I’d want both these lovely ladies front and center.”
“My daughter isn’t a campaign tool.” Sam clarified.
“No, but she is your daughter and seeing that she couldn’t go wrong inheriting from either
gene pool here, she’s beautiful. When you’re a parent, it gives you another
perspective…or so I’m told. You have a personal reason to want to leave things better for
the next generation. Taylor and his cardboard cut out wife don’t have that going for them
either.”
“Don’t you think we should concentrate on the primary contenders before we start looking
at Taylor?” Sam asked.
“Nope. I think the only opponent you should reference is Taylor. It puts you above the
fray.” Peyton said simply, unknowingly echoing Josh’s advice. Caitlin was quiet now,
entranced by Peyton’s voice and direct gaze.
“You understand that if by some miracle we win the nomination, Josh Lyman would take
over the campaign at that point?” Sam wanted that much perfectly clear.
“I don’t think I’d want to be solely responsible for the Democratic nominee for Governor.
But Josh did say he’d make sure there was a spot for me on the staff as his Deputy when
things got to that point.” Forbes noted. “Look, you’re not sure about this. I can
understand that, but you’ve got some events planned this week and things aren’t going
well with Jamison. How about we give each other this week to try things out? If it’s a bust,
then we go our separate ways, if not, we put together an agreement.”
Sam looked at Ainsley who nodded. “Okay. Tomorrow, we have-“
“A rally at 2 and a fundraiser at 7.” Peyton finished. “Do you have a copy of your
remarks?”
“Yeah.” Sam said and with only a moment’s hesitation, went to retrieve them.
“You’re very good with her.” Ainsley noted. “You must have had a lot of practice with
babies.”
“I’m an uncle many times over. I love kids.” Peyton admitted.
“But you don’t have any of your own?” Ainsley confirmed.
“No. I haven’t even seen much of my nieces and nephews in the last few years. My
decision to come out a few years ago was a source of embarrassment and
disappointment to my upper-crust east coast family. I don’t even get invited back for the
holidays.” Peyton admitted.
“I’m sorry. That must be hurtful.” Ainsley wasn’t sure what else to say.
“That’s not even the worst of it.” Peyton told her. “They’re Republicans, too.” He
continued, tongue-in-cheek. Ainsley found herself laughing.
Sam came back into the room to find Peyton and his wife hip to hip on the couch playing
with Caitlin. Peyton handed the baby back to Ainsley as he took the remarks from Sam.
He paced while he read and made a few marks here and there. When he’d finished, he
faced Sam.
“Damn, I’d forgotten how good you are with words.” Peyton noted. “I made a few minor
changes, but overall it’s exactly what it needs to be; an introduction to the electorate and
a fundamental statement of the things you stand for. Nicely done.”
“Thanks.” Sam smiled, too. “Do I have to run all my speeches by you?”
“Have to? No, but I think it would be wise until you get your sea legs around here.” Peyton
advised. “The rally is going to be for a host of Democratic candidates, and most of your
competitors will be there. Don’t comment on them, don’t address them directly, and
whatever you do, don’t respond to Roger’s baiting; he’s notorious for getting some sucker
to respond to bullshit and since you’re new, he’s going to train his sights on your beautiful
blue eyes.” Sam started to reply, but Peyton cut him off. “The fundraiser is going to be all
you, so give it the full court press. You didn’t leave a highly prestigious job in the White
House to come in second in the primary.”
“I didn’t?” Sam was almost amused now.
“Absolutely not.” Peyton played along. “You will most likely get questions about me, too.
Tell them you hired me as a consultant for my keen fashion sense and laugh it off.”
“Is that part of the services you offer?” Ainsley asked.
“Yes, but that’s not the part you’ll need.” Peyton laughed. “Spend some time online
tonight looking at proposition 12; we’ll want to go over it before you hit the rally tomorrow.”
“I have gone over it. I’m against it.” Sam declared.
“Take another look, then. I don’t think you want to go down that road.” Peyton stated. “I’ll
say goodnight now. You’ve had an exhausting day already.” Peyton leaned down to
stroke Caitlin’s cheek. ”See you tomorrow, beautiful. Ainsley, Sam, goodnight.”
Peyton was almost out the door when he popped his head back inside. “Oh and remind
me to make sure the MC introduces you as Ainsley Hayes-Seaborne tomorrow. These
people need to get used to the idea of a politician’s wife who has opinions of her own.
Might as well start as we mean to go on. Oh, and don’t wear green tomorrow, My
horoscope says that will only lead to trouble. Goodnight.”
Sam waited a beat to be sure he was gone. “Well I don’t honestly know whether to be
relieved or alarmed, but it appears that we’ve hired a campaign director.”