Finally, the down-home Robert Ritchie meets the arrogant Jed Bartlet for a presidential debate. CJ brings cantankerous State Department veteran Albie Duncan in to spin, while Sam takes time out to meet with upstart campaign manager Will Bailey in the California 47th. Even the sudden death of Congressional Candidate Horton Wilde won't disuade Will from trying his damnedest to win. A disappointed Leo has to miss the debate in order to deal with the Qumari situation, for which he enlists the help of girlfriend and accomplished lawyer Jordan Kendall. Toby continues to pester his pregnant ex-wife, Representative Andrea Wyatt, to make an honest man out of him.

Starring:

ROB LOWE as Sam Seaborn
STOCKARD CHANNING as First Lady Abigail Bartlet
DULÉ HILL as Charlie Young
ALLISON JANNEY as C.J. Cregg
JANEL MOLONEY as Donna Moss
RICHARD SCHIFF as Toby Ziegler
JOHN SPENCER as Leo McGarry
BRADLEY WHITFORD as Josh Lyman
and MARTIN SHEEN as President Josiah Bartlet

Andie:  These things are won and lost in the rooms.

Toby:  Not this one.

Andie:  You think so?

Toby:  I know so.

Andie:  Don't get overconfident.

Toby:  That ship sailed.

---

Toby:  What do you think?

Josh:  Well, if we lose because of the ten word answers, then I'm quitting show business.

Toby:  What do you think?

CJ:  I think it depends who shows up.  If it's Uncle Fluffy, we've got problems.  If it's the President in his last campaign, his last debate, for the last job he'll ever have, if the President shows up, I think it could be a sight to see.  I mean, a sight to see.  What do you think?

Toby:  I think you're going to enjoy yourself tonight.

---

CJ:  Let's not spin.  Let's leave the room.  We'll use the experts, but nobody from the campaign, nobody from the White House, and definitely not us.

Josh:  Why?

CJ:  There's nothing left to do here, and it's inelegant.  It's the punch Ali never gave Foremen when he was going down.

Toby:  Absolutely.

Josh:  All right, just a statement:  The President's on his way to Washington to get back to work.

Sam:  There's gonna be a lot of drinking on the plane.  I don't think that should be included in the statement.