All language subtitles for The West Wing (1999) - S06E11 - Opposition Research (1080p AMZN WEB-DL x265 ImE)_track3_[eng]

Previously on The West Wing:

I'm not running
for congress again, Josh.

Now, you came a long way.

I'm sorry about that,
but it's just...

I'm not talking
about congress.

So, I think I found my guy.
That's good.

WILL:
Well, we can use you.

And not as anybody's assistant.

SANTOS:
The filing deadline's
next Thursday.

I'm in, if you're in with me.

How's Donna working out?

She just headed up
for New Hampshire.

She's gonna be there
a couple weeks.

TOBY:
You can't leave.
We're not done here.

Someone's got to think

about the ninth year.

You're gonna walk
into the Oval Office

and tell the President
you just found a better horse?

MAN ( on radio ):
...the state,
today's early morning mix

of sleet and freezing rain
will ease up by early afternoon

when temperatures will...

SANTOS:
I want this to be
a campaign of ideas.

JOSH:
I think you missed a turn.

SANTOS:
Entitlements are collapsing,
our school system's a joke.

You could sneak a fleet

of tanks across the
Canadian border,

and these campaigns
always wind up

being about a candidate's
high school transcripts.

It was a left at Horseshoe Lake.

I thought it was a bend

at Horseshoe Lake.

A left, a bend.

I-I think you missed it.

You know, if we
just took the money

the campaigns spent on
personality contests

and partisan sideshows,

we could solve
this country's problems

and shut down talk radio
all at the same time.

First Amendment issues

aside, that...

See, this looks more
like a curve, unless

this is just
bad cartography.

You know,
I almost wish

that we could have
a campaign slogan

without my name in it.

Yeah. "For President."

It's catchy.

Probably cut
both ways.

I'm not seeing a curve

here anyway. Uh...

Why's our headquarters
so far out of the way?

Well, it's New Hampshire,

There's not a whole lot
that's in the way.

Let me try.

Currently 18 degrees...

How about a kick-off speech
on education?

The problem with education is
it's stuck in the muck.

Here, isn't that the...?

Looks more like a slope
than a curve. Huh?

( clears throat )

You got teachers' unions
blocking any change

in hiring structure,
you got local school districts

ready to burn coloring books

if Washington dictates
what color crayon.

New Hampshire's about

retail politics,
person-to-person.

People here won't vote for you

till you've had coffee
in their house five times.

I hope they're serving decaf.

* Good day sunshine

* Good day sunshine

* Good day sunshine

* I need to laugh

* And when the sun is out

* I've got something...

Guess we're using
my name after all.

MAN:
We got room.

( laughter )

MAN:
Welcome, Matt.

WOMAN:
Hi, Matt.

Hey. Josh, you know Ronna
and Ned from my

Congressional
staff.

Yeah. We've been talking
on the phone. Hi.

I've never picked
out a campaign
headquarters before.

Got a ceiling
and everything.

Yeah. If you like
that sort of thing.

Yeah. When our
fundraising kicks in,

we're gonna need more
phone lines, more desks,

maybe some industrial
safety helmets, but,

uh, for now just make sure
we meet the fire code.

NED:
You were right--
Germany's at 240,

Japan's at 243.

SANTOS:
Ah.

243?

NED:
Days in the
school year.

And we're counting because...?

SANTOS:
I was asking Ned
to look into, uh,

lengthening the
school year from
180 days to 240.

There's a professor
over at Boston College--

he's done a lot of work
on this.

I thought we might have him
come over here

with a few thinkers

and get us some ideas
for an education speech.

And we will,

but let's not put the cart
before the carcass here.

This trip is
about introducing yourself,

honing a narrative.

That's it.

I'm here to hone.

You say this had been
a sporting goods store?

Um, a kind
of specialty
sporting goods.

"Laraby's
Life Savers:

Lose Your Boat,
We'll Help You Float."

The first month's free.

When the press finds out

we're launching this thing

from the hull
of the Titanic...

Yeah. I bet we get a break
on flood insurance.

Okay. Lose
the flotillas.

Anyone asks, we're
working on a skylight.

Congressman, we better get
going to our first event.

We got a full
day ahead of us.

Ah, hang on a minute,
hang on a minute.

You know, they say
democracy is, uh,

how we choose the guy
who gets the blame.

Well, I will take the blame,

but I will never forget those
of you who deserve the credit.

Thank you for being with me

here at the, uh,
start of this

crazy roller-coaster ride.

SANTOS:
Okay.

Let's go make us
some history.

Mm.

( Josh inhales )

( sniffles )

Oh, this is just a bit
too metaphorical for me.

All the candidates do it.

It's an exercise in humility.

I could give
a major address

on the importance
of triple-ply.

How about shaking
some hands,

helping the people
with their recycling?

( sniffles )

Anything particular
I should say?

Just tell 'em who you are,
what you're doing.

Good morning.
Hi. I'm Matt Santos.

I'm running
for President.

Morning, ma'am.
Matt Santos.

I'm running
for President.

May I help
you with that?

Tell me
about this education stuff

he wants to do.

Uh, Ned's working on that.

He asked me to work
on a national service program,

and some ideas
for Medicare reform.

He's thinking about
a series of speeches,

starting tomorrow
night at Hawks House.

We're not gonna do that.
We're not?

I'm just getting
to know this guy. Uh...

I don't want to come on
too strong with, uh...

You got to help me out here.

You want the memos?

I want to rein in
the policy process.

You can't.

( laughs )

What part of campaign manager
do you not understand?

Do you want me
to draw you a flow-chart?

Where's Matt
on this chart?

Let's call him
The Congressman.

Well, he likes to
be called Matt,

and he runs his
own policy process.

Matt is a guy who hosts
home improvement shows.

The Congressman is a guy
who runs for President,

and you don't give
policy speeches

in New Hampshire--
the world's capital

of grip-and-grin--
especially

before people can pick you
out of a lineup.

In the House, when we
were dragging our feet

on a policy he liked, he
would just announce it

without telling us.

Great.

( sniffles )

I got to meet
with some state legislators.

Keep him here till CNN arrives.

I pulled some strings
to get us some b-roll.

And don't let
him change

the official
language

to Flemish
while I'm gone.

Let's go.

SANTOS:
Morning.

Hey.

Hey' aren't you that
new candidate from Texas?

Yes, sir. Matt Santos.

Uh, great to meet you.

Do you know Phil Herlihy?

Lives right there
in Sierra Vista.

Oh, no.
That's Arizona.

Sierra Blanca--
that's in Texas.

Oh. Well.

He's a good guy.

JOSH:
No, he's great.

He's got a
million ideas.

He's really engaged.

TOBY:
Hoynes is up by eight
in the South Carolina poll.

That's all name I.D.,
mile wide and an inch deep.

How's your staff?

I got some political folks
lined up,

but our fundraising's
just getting going,

so we're using volunteers
for now.

Lot of money
in the Latino community.

What would you think
about a big education speech?

In New Hampshire,
on his first trip?

Yeah. It's just an idea
we're kicking around.

Well, stop kicking.

Yeah.

Have you and Santos

had the conversation yet?

Not yet.

Have the conversation.

You think this whole campaign's

kind of goofy, don't you?

Yeah.

Uh, I'll call you later.

Yeah.

This is a dry cleaner's.

MAN:
I'm sorry.

I... My mom asked me

to pick up the dry cleaning
on our way.

I'll be honest, Josh.

I was surprised to see you split
from Jed Bartlet like this.

It's no split,

Senator.

You telling me
Jed Bartlet's not gonna be

for his own Vice President?

He's the leader
of his own party.

He'll remain neutral
till there's a nominee.

Is that a Bob Russell
letter opener?

VP gave it to me
at the lunch caucus.

I got the cup holders
last month.

So, what's your boy
Santez have to offer?

It's Santos,

and Russell may have
the letter opener,

but what's in
the envelope?

Might be some tie clips.

Who knows.

Senator, you're looking
for the next Jed Bartlet,

I'm telling you
it's Santos.

Top in his class
at Annapolis,

coalition-building mayor.

He's written more
legislation

than Bob Russell's read.

Why do you think I
left the White House

to run this?

Well, you do
give him credibility.

Then meet with him.

Pull some folks
together for a coffee.

Hmm. John Hoynes gave a grand
to my campaign.

Russell gave $1,500,
Clarkson, too.

Our fundraising's
just getting going.

Don't-Don't make this
about money.

Money equals viability.

And from what I can tell,
your boy has neither.

He's been inside
for a while.

Good. Jardins are

top-tier activists
in Nashua.

You got a message
at headquarters

from Will Bailey.

He's Bob Russell's...

Yeah. I've heard
of him. Thanks.

Wants to meet you
this afternoon.

He's in New
Hampshire?

Advancing Russell's next trip.

How were your meetings?

Met with three
state legislators.

They all want
to know why I'm
running Santos

against Jed Bartlet's
own Vice President.

Free country, isn't it?

Not if everyone thinks

the President's in
Cowboy Bob's saddlebag.

The President's son-in-law,
Doug Westin,

has a pretty tough race
in the 1st District.

Yeah, the
environmentalists think

he's too
pro-snowmobile.

It's like a bad
Grizzly Adams spin-off.

You must know him pretty well.

Maybe if he endorsed Matt...

Put a call into
his office.

See if Lizzy Bartlet
has a minute

to sit down with me.

You gonna talk to

the New York Times guy?

New York Times guy?

MAN:
Yeah. Just tell him
to fax me when he gets in.

Okay, got to go.

I didn't expect
the Paper of Record

on our first trip.

All the news that fits.

You're covering
Russell?

I'm covering this.

Morgan from the Post, too.

Really?

Really.

Well, for once, you're
writing the real story.

Yeah. How's it going?

Great. He was

practically autographing
deposit bottles

at the Litchfield
Town Dump.

Well, those ought to be worth
at least a nickel.

You want a sit-down
with the Congressman?

Maybe later.

How long's
the New Hampshire swing?

A couple days.

Well, I'm hearing some things
out of Houston.

May want to shorten your trip.

What things?
Well, he's your candidate.

I'm sure it's nothing
you don't already know.

SANTOS:
...Especially

given what's happening
around the world today,

but yes, I think it would
make a huge difference.

Jamey, Janice,
this is Josh Lyman,

my campaign manager.

You know, another
three terms

in Congress,
and I don't think

my brow would be
as furrowed as his.

JAMEY:
We've known Josh
for years.

We ran this precinct
for Bartlet both times.

Mr. Jardin, Mrs. Jardin.

We're talking
about education.

Did you know the Congressman
was first in his family

to go to college,
top of his class at Annapolis,

and can do more chin-ups
than the entire

Council on Foreign
Relations?

( Santos laughs )

I don't know many people
who'd be excited

by a longer school year.

Now, I'll be honest with you,
neither do I.

We're talking about a longer...

SANTOS:
I'm not trying
to excite people.

I'm just trying
to tell them
what we need.

America is 49th in
the world in literacy.

That's down 18 spots
in the last 50 years.

Why?

Well, for starters, the
180-day school year--

that's based on the
agrarian calendar.

So the kids can tend crops
in the summer.

Right, but we're

in a global economy now.

Japan's at 243 days,
Germany's at 240.

JOSH:
Which is why
we want a study,

one of those big,

thick reports you spend months
just-just studying.

JAMEY:
I got a pretty

good education
in 180 days.

What does this have to do
with what happens

in my son's classroom?

You know,
not enough,

which is
why we need

to end teacher tenure
and get rid

of failing teachers.

Our cousin Phyllis
is a school teacher.

SANTOS:
And I bet she's
a good one,
which is why

she would keep her job.

JOSH:
I need the
Congressman

for one moment;
a scheduling problem.

JAMEY:
Absolutely.

JANICE:
Of course.

I keep telling him
to call me Matt.

( laughs )

SANTOS:
Excuse me.

I'm road-testing ideas
for the speech.

These are top-
tier activists.

You just fired

their cousin Phyllis.

And next week
we'll be training Phyllis

in computer programming.

You should be
introducing yourself,

talking about your
personal narrative.

They asked for my views
on education.

Well, they didn't like
what they heard.

You're right,
so let's not make Jamey Jardin

our Secretary of Education,
okay?

Un-furrow your brow, Josh,

I've run for office six times.

In Texas.

New Hampshire
has an education
funding crisis.

They have no
income tax,

They can't afford
to pay for 60 more
days of school.

Which is why we need
to nationalize the system.

That's a half-trillion-dollar
joke you just made.

India and China

are all investing
in education like crazy.

You want to leave it up
to Nashua and Litchfield?

These are all
great ideas.

You were the one that said

that this issue
was stuck in the muck.

This is how we un-muck it.

The Jardins...
don't want to be un-mucked.

They want to know who you are.

Once they get
to like you...

We can move on
to the swimsuit competition.

Can we talk to
the professors?

Get a study, wait
till we can afford
some research on this?

How long would that take?

We've exhausted
the donors

in your district.

One idea's a big
fundraising drive

in the Latino community.

I don't feel comfortable
with that right now.

It's a huge donor base
you alone can tap.

Josh, I don't want
to just be

the brown candidate.

I want to be
the American candidate.

How do you want
to go broke--

as the brown candidate
or as the American candidate?

I looked at
the daily spending reports.

We don't need to spend $4,000

on yard signs.

Y-You're reviewing
daily spending reports?

Let's go back in
with the Jardins.

We can talk about this later.

Congressman...
Call me Matt.

These are all parts of
a larger conversation.

The Times
is already digging around.

Maybe other campaigns, too.

No.

We need to
get proactive.

No opposition research,
no dirt on our opponents.

I know how to
make this work,

but you have to let me.

I don't want you two
to catch cold.

Scheduling problem's
solved.

Let's go back
to that blackboard.

Folks love taking
pictures with those.

Almost like
the real thing.

Almost.

They talk a little less.

Don't say that too loud.

His wife is going
to want one.

May I help you?

I'm Josh Lyman;
I'm here to see Will Bailey.

He's expecting
you; follow me.

BAILEY:
The Vice President's
not missing

the J-J dinner either.

If he has to break a tie
on the Ag bill,

he'll do a quick round trip
on Air Force Two. Yeah.

How's the Santos juggernaut?

Juggering great.

Just opened
our New Hampshire offices.

I understand
if there's a tidal wave,

you can paddle your way
to safety.

Our money's going
into the field.

Mind if one
of my deputies

sits in?
It's your meeting.

Would you step in here,
please?

So, why'd you want to see me?

I've got that list

of free media events
for New Hampshire

broken down by media market,

though some of the targets
spill over the border into...

Vermont.

Hi.

Hi.

WILL:
I don't know
why people cling

to this antiquated
notion of states.

For the purposes
of presidential campaigning,

we really live in

the United Media Markets
of America, don't we?
Yeah.

I'm not going
to waste your time.

I'm sure you have boats to sink.

The truth is we're all friends,
we're all good Democrats.

None of us wants
a bloodied nominee,

and I know
you don't want

to attack
the President's record--

also known as your record,

also known as
the Vice President's record.

He did clap at some of
those bill signings, didn't he?

Live on
national television,

yes, he did.

I'm proposing
a clean campaign.

No attacks, a preemptive truce.

I love what you've done
with the place.

It's like
the Mao Tse Tung School

of Interior Decorating.

If you're saying you're
not willing

to rule out negative attacks
on the administration...

I'll take it to the Congressman.

He decides
what we rule in or out.

Good.

Great.

Can we not make
this a thing?

It's not a thing.

SANTOS:
Okay, so, who's next?

I'm setting up a dinner
with the Jardins,

a coffee with Keefe.

This time, push your bio.

I understand
this is retail politics, Josh,

but how much time do we spend
trying to get votes one by one?

As much time as it takes
to get some.

Well, what about giving
some bigger speeches too--

you know, talking to people
1,000 at a time?

1,000 sounds
better than one.

We'll get to the speeches.

These are top-flight activists.

If they sign on,
they'll devote
every waking hour,

get three dozen
of their friends
to do the same.

Matt...

I'm just wondering

if Jefferson and Madison
spent time

having coffee
in Litchfield.

Uh, Liz
Bartlet's here

to see Josh.

We still have to have
that conversation.

Hello.

JOSH:
Thanks for coming
all the way here, Liz.

We could've done
this at the house.

This is for an
event we're doing
on aqua-marine...

Well, more maritime...

Lose your boat,
they'll help you float.

Yeah.

Your husband's got
a tough challenge

with Bledsoe on his left.

Doug's been supporting the
snowmobiling clubs for years.

But to say he's
anti-environment...

I know.

We're giving
an environmental
speech next week.

We can win back the greens.

You still mad at me

for having concerns
about Doug's campaign?

Not at all.
I'm glad.

I'm mad at you
for sharing
those concerns

with the D-triple-C
and the White House Office

of Political Affairs.
Right.

And if you think
you're getting
Doug's endorsement

for a single-digit spoiler
like Matthew Santos...

We don't want
Doug's endorsement.

You don't?

No.
No?

No. Liz, you've been involved
in New Hampshire primaries

your whole life.

You know why they matter--
'cause anyone has a shot here.

'Cause the voters
decide.

You only care about this primary
'cause you want to win it.

You're right,
and maybe that's crazy,

'cause Russell's got
all the money,

all the institutional support.

But I don't think
he should have it locked up

before it starts,
and the only reason he does

is everyone assumes
that your dad is for him.

My dad's going to stay neutral.

If Doug did a photo-op
with Santos--

no endorsement,
just one lousy Kodak moment--

it'd be a psychic wink
to your dad's supporters

that this primary
is wide open,

that the establishment hacks
have to earn it.

Isn't that how it should be?

Isn't that how your dad
got the nomination

eight years ago?

I wouldn't be doing this
for you.

The Fickle Pickle Diner
in an hour and a half.

Hey.

RONNA:
Hey.

He's shaking hands out front
while we wait for Doug Westin.

The press corps
seems to be growing.

NED:
They're covering
Doug Westin.

Right.

We're going to put
out a press statement

when we get back
to headquarters.

On what?
Dwarf-tossing.

Dwarf-tossing?

I told the Litchfield
town selectman we would.

There's some bar
over on Route 3

where they put
dwarves in harnesses

and toss them
into hoops.

He's trying to ban it.

We'd have spent more
ink on dwarf-tossing

than on Medicare reform.

Well, ask a dwarf
in a harness

which matters more.

I want to make a deal
on this Houston thing.

It's a bit late for that;
everyone's got it.

Guess you guys are 0
for 2 this afternoon.

"0 for 2"?

This UNH professor--
Stoller, Strober...

What about him?

He leaked the details
of your education plan

to the AP wire.

SANTOS:
If you do reconsider

your support
for the Vice President,

I hope you'll remember
this conversation that we had.

Have a great day, folks.

Thank you, thank you.

Why did we put out
an education plan?

We didn't.

This UNH guy--

Strobelight?

Strobner.

He leaked it to the AP.

You can't be spreading
this stuff around.

I faxed a few ideas
to a couple of people.

It shouldn't be
on paper.

Well, we talked about
getting input for my speech.

Look, we're not...

We can't do a speech.

It hasn't been scored,
it hasn't been tested...

You mean killed
by a bunch of consultants.

Someone is shopping

an eight-year-old quote
out of Houston.

You said that
the New Hampshire primary

shouldn't come first
because, quote,

"The state's as diverse
as a Mayflower reunion."

That's a funny line.

Yeah,
we've got a state

full of Mayflower descendants
laughing their heads off.

I don't remember
saying it.

Can I deny it?

Yeah, it sounds like me though.

How fast
can you take it back?

It's true, isn't it?

People here think this primary
is their birthright.

I, uh, I think
I got to stand by that.

Okay.

Take the photo.

Don't take
any questions.

We'll figure it out
later. Go.

SANTOS:
Hi.

Congressman "Santis,"
how are you?

A pleasure to meet you.

I'm a big admirer
of your family.

I really appreciate
your doing this.

Can't say I agree with your
assessment of our primary.

Excuse me?
Your quote.

You think
the state's diverse?

Well, no one writes it,

but New Hampshire is 30
percent Franco-American.

It's funny
that no one writes it.

So, Josh, how does it feel

to be out
of Washington? Nice?

Yeah.

Bledsoe says you'd shut down
the national parks

if the snowmobilers wanted it.

I care very deeply
about our party.

REPORTER 2:
Deeply enough

to restrict
snowmobiles,

as your opponent's
challenged you to do?

We'll have a lot to say
about our parks.

Congressman, you've
had tough words

about this
state's primary.

We're here to meet the voters.

But you don't value our votes,
do you?

( shutters clicking )

Oh, I value everyone's vote.

Well, then why
don't you apologize

for what you said
about this state's primary?

Why don't you acknowledge,
here and now,

our role as the presidential
wine-tasters of America?

I could never support
a candidate who doesn't.

Well, you know,
I'm not much of
a wine drinker.

And I'm sorry

if I won't have your support.

Hi. I'm Matt Santos.

I'm running
for president.

From Maine to Michigan
to Montana,

a high school diploma
has to mean something--

the same thing--
or we're walking away

from our biggest responsibility.

JOSH:
The congressman and I

need to talk
about the schedule.

We got to get a little better
code language than that.

I got to call my kids
before they go to bed.

Ah, this won't take long.

I know this isn't what
you thought it would be.

Yeah, I had
a loose understanding

that running
for president

had something to do
with public policy.

Every first-time
candidate makes mistakes.

The good ones fix them

and don't make the
same ones twice.

Well, we're stuck with this one.

I got to give that speech
at Hawks House tomorrow night.

You have to shelve
the education plan.

You have to swallow
the Mayflower quote.

You, uh, want me to introduce
myself to the electorate

as a flip-flopper?

As opposed to a piece
of political toast, yes, I do.

Do you think this state
represents the country?

I think it's 30 percent
Franco-American.

I think it decides
our future.

If I wanted coffee klatches
and recycled cans,

I would run for Congress again.

We need to sell you first,

then we'll get
to the big issues.

Meaning not in New Hampshire.

Meaning once people
get to know who you are.

Right. Let me finish
what I'm doing.

Let me call my kids. Thanks.

Congressman, we're
having this conversation...

Call me Matt.

I don't want
to call you Matt!

You think this is
any other campaign?

You think you've

been scrutinized and
poked and prodded

like a prizewinning pig?

Well, you haven't.

You just walked
into a great, big
x-ray machine.

Everything shows up.

People with 30 years
in public life

get blown out of these
things after two weeks.

This is
an eight-year-old quote.

I have given
thousands of interviews.

Which is why
we have to go
over everything--

what you've said,
what you've done,

who your enemies are,

what years you were
late on your taxes,

whether, God forbid,

you've had problems
in your marriage...

And if I did,
it's between me and my wife.

Nothing is disqualifying
if I know it now.

If I had known

about that quote,

we would have skipped
New Hampshire

till we fixed it.

Do you agree with it?

Tell me if you agree with it.

I think whoever fed
it to the press

has got to have more,

and that's our priority
right now.

Whose campaign
is this, Josh?

I don't know,
who flew down to Houston

and talked you into it?

Instead of tinkering

with pie-in-the-sky
education programs,

maybe you better
figure out

why you're running,
and if you are sure...

that you are really up to this.

The education plan
is why I'm running.

I'm going to go call my kids

instead of standing here
and being treated like one.

MAN:
Of course.

We can't afford any polling
just yet.

I know.

I don't suppose you've seen
any with Santos in the mix.

Two private polls.

He's within the margin of error.

Of who?

Of having any support at all.

Oh.

Quite a press day you're having.

( chuckles ):
Yeah.

The Union Leader says
he'd create an income tax

to pay for his
education plan.

The Monitor's saying
he should take the
Mayflower back

to Houston.

Worst of all,
none of it made the front page.

When he reads the papers,
he'll become more pliable.

I don't want him to be pliable.

I-I want him to...

Agree with you
in the first place?

I know how to run these.

If he'd... just let me.

It's your job, Josh.

But it's his life.

And this guy's
nothing but potential.

Why else would Brock and Morgan
be covering our first trip?

But it's like...
he doesn't get this.

He doesn't get what this is.

Give him time.

He's a long way
from Houston.

The first of the opposition
research you wanted.

Everyone does it now.

( quietly ):
Yeah.

You can pay me in installments.

Small ones.

( no audio )

Josh?

You should have done this
weeks ago.

( paper rustling )

( sighs )

We don't get any points
for substance?

Uh, it's right there,

column three,
next to penmanship.

What about the teachers' unions?

They ignored it.

They didn't want to make
it a national story.

Look, I added this
event yesterday

so you could take back
the Mayflower crack.

This is a senior center.

It's a large and
a captive audience.

We're going to pay
a surprise visit

to the state's
oldest voter.

Dell Tollerson?

He's, like, 197.

Granddaddy of the primary
since it was Old Hampshire.

Take back what you said,

he forgives you,
crisis over.

Hi.
Morning.

Shouldn't there
be a crowd here?

Don't tell me they're out
playing jai alai.

One of our residents died.

Everyone's at the funeral.

I suppose Dell Tollerson's
there, too.

Oh, I'd say so.

He's in the coffin.

Thanks.

I don't think I should
defuse this with a joke.

Good staff work.

We're a scrappy insurgency,
okay.

We're taking
our licks early.

That's a lot of
licks for someone

who's a nonfactor
in the race.

If Santos was a nonfactor,
I doubt you and the Post

would be sipping strained beets
at the Nashua Senior Center.

You're serious.

What?

We're not writing about Santos.

We're writing about you.

Why you're running this
quixotic campaign,

why you're splitting
up the field.

We're running to win.

By thumbing your nose
at the first primary,

proposing the largest-ever
expansion of education

in a state that can't
afford to pay for notebooks?

We're talking
about the big issues.

I think you're siphoning
off votes to help Hoynes.

Why else would Russell's
folks be worried about you?

I want guns off the list,
I want choice off the list.

Eastern Pennsylvania's
overwhelmingly antigun

and pro-choice.

But the people who aren't
vote on those issues alone.

Take them off the list.

Know what I'm realizing
is hardest about a Presidential?

Delegating to people
you barely know.

You fed that quote

to Brock; you're trying
to force me out of the race.

Last time I checked,
you're not in the race.

You talked to Brock.

He told me you were
worried about us.

You turned down a job
with Russell,

you recruit a nobody
to run against us.

I'm worried 'cause it doesn't
make any sense.

So you dig up damaging quotes?

I didn't have to.

It was probably
Texas Republicans

trying to kill him off

so he can't run
for State Treasurer.

If Santos isn't serious, why'd
you trot Donna out to guilt me?

I'm not guilting anybody.

You should be guilting yourself.

After Leo, you're the best
political mind in the party.

And you're going to be

working for us.

Everyone is--
it's inevitable.

When that day comes,

do you want to be on the record
trashing us,

so we can't
hire you?

Tell Roger and Ellen
to come back in here.

Look, I'm not saying it's going
to come without a cost.

Education is at the heart

of everything that we care
about--

competitiveness, opportunity,
equality.

Shouldn't we figure out
what we need first,

and then get into the details?

WOMAN:
So you're saying
no tax increase?

Hi.

Hi.

Hi.
Hi. Ronna.

Actually, it's Donna.

No, it's Ronna.

No, really,
it's Donna.

Uh, I'm quite certain
it's...

Ronna, it's Donna.

Donna, it's Ronna.

Give us a minute.
Sure.

She should stick around.

Your whole campaign
is like some
Dr. Seuss nightmare.

One fish, two fish,
dead fish,

we-fought-the-good-fight
fish.

As opposed to The Cat in
the Imitation Cowboy Hat
Fell Flat.

Go ahead.
Hop on Bob.

You should be with me.

You're on the wrong campaign.

You're right.

I let Russell seduce me
with mindless perks

like a salary
and actual
political support.

What make-work job do they
even have you doing over there?

Media targeting
for the Northeast
and Pacific Northwest.

Fine. We're still the ones
with the gutsy education plan,

the ones speaking the truth
about the New Hampshire primary.

You know what Russell's
been speaking about
on his trips here?

I didn't know chipboard
could talk.

White Mountains

preservation, M.T.B.E.,
textile conversion,

local issues.
You mean pandering.

I mean what voters want.

Campaigns are about them,
not us.

You taught me that.

You came here to deliver
my old truisms?

Close.

Letters from Russell
supporters to the DNC,

urging them to protect

the New Hampshire
primary.

You oughta deliver some
of those truisms yourself.

Least you could do is send me
the one with the noose.

Maybe Will's right.

Maybe you are the man
of destiny.

I just wish you'd

filled out a little sooner
is all.

MAN:
Mr. Lyman?

Yeah.

A call for you.

A Mr. Potus on the line?

This is Josh Lyman.

MAN:
Please hold for the President.

PRESIDENT:
Liz tells me you look like hell.

Yeah, well,
hell's just another word

for far-from-home-
without-your-mittens-on.

Sorry about what happened
with Doug.

If you ever have daughters,
Josh,

don't let them run off
and marry pinheads.

He's in a tough race.

I deserved it.

No, you took a bullet for me.

I'm the one
who didn't want Doug to run.

I was just doing my job.

I know it looks

like I'm for Russell,
but I want a vigorous primary.

I know that, sir.

If I speak out, it send
all kinds of wrong signals.

I know.
Take down these numbers.

Numbers on...?

Just take them down.

Six to 24 over six.

And this is...?

New Hampshire's dropout rate.

It fell from six lowest
in the nation

to 24th in the last six years.

They're highest in the region
now.

I haven't done enough--
Santos should say that.

People have to know why
he's talking about education,

why he's in this,
what he's running against.

I haven't done enough.

"It might as well be me."

See you when you visit
Washington sometime?

Yes, sir. Sometime.

( dial tone )

The Democratic Leader says

your education plan's poison
for New Hampshire.

We respect his views,
and we look forward

to discussing
them in person.

He says
after Mayflower-gate,

he won't meet
with Santos.
Come on.

That's a "gate" already?

No way does that qualify
as a "gate".

So you're not consulting
the teachers' unions,

you're not identifying
revenue streams...

Let me tell you
what we are doing:

we're trying to solve
maybe the most serious

long-term problem
in this country,

and of course
it's going to be
controversial,

of course the status
quo is going to go
nutty-bananas,

but where are the other
candidates' education plans?

Tell me who's got
an alternative.

Tell me that.

( clears throat )

( sighs ):
You want to talk
about the schedule?

I wanted to talk about
today's spending report.

You, uh, hired
Joey Lucas

to do opposition
research after I
told you not to?

Congressman...

After I told you
that we weren't going

to smear other
Democrats.

Research isn't on them.
It's on you.

I don't know you.

I-I don't know what you've said,
what you've done.

I have to know.

And if a teacher smacked
me with a ruler

in the third grade,
that's going to help

you sell my
education plan?

If I changed positions

on the Lindbergh
baby, that's worth

having me
investigated?

Your brother hasn't worked
in five years.

You're supporting him.

And I need to know
if you've ever tried

to put him
on a government payroll.

I need to know if you've
ever made any phone calls...

Leave him out of this.

How the hell did
she get that?

Same way everyone else

is going to get it.
Well, we'd better
stop doing this

like everyone else.

We'd better stop
it right now.

You don't get to run this
as a test-case

on family privacy
any more than you get to pick

which states are ready
for big podium speeches.

I'm not trying to make this
a test case.

Come on.

We're lucky if we have
two months with this.

I'm going to waste it
shaking hands.

Two months?

I gave up everything

for this-- you're
not even in it to win?

Maybe we have a different
definition of winning, Josh.

Maybe that's what we should've
talked about in Houston.

What's that?

It's called
a clean campaign.

I'm not hip to all this

campaign jargon.
These are...?

Statements from the other
campaigns, promising

education plans
by next week.

No one was talking about
it-- now they all are.

Hoynes challenged
the whole field to
debate education.

We're moving the
debate, Josh.

Don't take that to the
Litchfield Town Dump.

It'll still win more
votes than your guy.

I deserved...

what you did to us
at the Fickle Pickle.

I didn't do anything.

That was Doug.

I practically poured
a bucket of paint

on his head
when we got home.

We said all along that
we wouldn't endorse anyone.

Really?
Tons of our supporters
are leaning toward Russell,

tons are leaning
toward Hoynes.

And at least a few have
to be leaning toward us.

Not really.

But your guy has
one hell of an education plan.

My dad thinks so, too.

Only campaign that's
saying much of anything.

Does this mean
you and I are...
No.

I still think you're a jerk.

What's this?
A personal check.

You're donat... you're...

giving Matt
Santos $2,000?
Yeah.

Sorry, that's
the federal limit.

Liz, this goes on
a publicly disclosed
donor list.

This is a Bartlet
family contribution

to Santos for President.

Funny thing about the FEC:

they really like it
when you report this stuff.

Don't give
the environmental speech.

What do you mean?
Don't give it.

Doug's for snowmobiles.

Maybe it's bad politics,
but it's where he is.

That's the dumbest thing
I ever heard.

Wh-What do we
do with this?

Cash it, fast as we can,

see how many Matt Santos
letter openers it'll buy.

( laughs )

SANTOS:
Speech insert
on teachers?

NED:
More training
and higher salaries,

greater accountability.

Good. Thanks.

( Santos sighs, clears throat)

Whoa, whoa.

Where is, uh, Hawks House?

This is it.
This is Phil Hawks' house.

I thought it was
a venue, a...

a speech, not another
three-person

grip-and-grin.

Phil's one of the premier
activists in...

( loud sigh )

What I said about...

putting your brother
on the government payroll,

that was out of line.

You were just
doing your job.

I don't know what
you want my job to be.

Days now I've...

been trying to get my head
around this rationale.

I used to tell candidates,

"Make it about the voters,
not about you."

But the difference is,
you are them.

Working poor background,
kids in public school,

brother with
a high school diploma
he can barely read.

And what does that
all amount to

besides a lousy
stereotype?
It's why you're in this,

it's why you're talking
about education.

What's wrong with
telling people that?

Especially in New Hampshire,
where people think their vote

is the most personal thing
they have to give?

Have you taken one
moment to think about
whether you even like

my education plan--
pop psychology aside--
whether it's actually

right for the country?
I didn't have

to hear it
to know it'd be right.

I do want to win, you know?

But I can't do it
by being just another
cardboard cutout,

even if it is
smart tactics.

You can't run
a national campaign on your own.

No one can.
( sighs )

New Hampshire's over
with, isn't it?

You're not making it easy.

( chuckles ):
Well, you know...

if we're gonna do
this, I'm not gonna
make it easy.

I'm gonna give
the big speeches

and I'm gonna
push every limit,

and that's the campaign
you get to run.

And what if I can't
make that work?

Well, then no one can.

Uh, when you get the
rest of that research...

we'll go over it together.

( doorbell rings )

Hello.

SANTOS:
Good evening. Hi. How are you?

Hello, sir.
Thank you for inviting us.

Good evening.

Hi. Good evening.

This is more people
than we expected.
Yeah, some of

the neighbors came.
JOSH:
Because...?

Mostly 'cause they
think he's nuts-- but...

they're curious,
and that ain't nothing.

SANTOS:
Good evening, folks.

No, that ain't nothing.

Well, as you all know,
I'm Matt Santos,

that kamikaze candidate
from Texas.

Well, I didn't leave
my home and my family

so that I could stand around
town dumps

telling you all
what you want to hear.

I've faced some things
in my life, my own family,

that make me believe
that we need to rethink

our whole education system,
and if that's something

that's going to make it harder
for me as a candidate,

well, then I'll just have
to take it.