April 06, 2005
Nomination Up for Grabs on 'West Wing'
By LYNN ELBER
Associated Press
Real political conventions should be this exciting. On Wednesday's season finale of "The West Wing," the Democratic gathering isn't a coronation, it's a fight.
No contender has secured enough delegates in the primaries to capture the nomination outright, leaving apparent front-runners Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) and Bob Russell (Gary Cole) to duke it out.
The episode (9 p.m. EDT, NBC) is titled "2162 votes," a reference to the number of delegate votes required.
Russell, vice president to current President Bartlet (Martin Sheen), had invited Santos to join him in the No. 2 spot. Santos refused, despite party entreaties to present a united front.
Hovering in the background are two key figures. One is disgraced former Vice President Hoynes (Tim Matheson), whose presidential bid was derailed by yet another sex scandal but who still controls delegates.
Pennsylvania Gov. Baker (Ed O'Neill) is the other. A quiet figure who also has refused the vice presidential spot, he may have a crucial role to play in the convention's choice.
Will Santos be the first Hispanic candidate nominated for the White House by a major party or could a man nicknamed "Bingo Bob" Russell swipe the honor from him? It's also possible a surprise could be in store.
The GOP candidate already has been decided: Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda), a moderate, Republican senator from California who's both politically wily and has the stature to be president.
The big brawl over who follows Bartlet into the Oval Office won't come until next season. Should be a doozy.
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