Cut and Thrust

22

The convention opened at two P.M. and would finish in the early evening to allow for various scheduled events around town, including the fund-raiser in The Arrington’s amphitheater. The last two hours of the day were devoted to nominating speeches, one for each candidate. Stone didn’t bother to take his group to the hall; they could watch the speeches on TV, if they chose to, and have plenty of time to dress for the evening.

Stone spent the early part of the afternoon reading, and close to five o’clock Ann found him in his study.

“You through early?” Stone asked.

“Yes, with Kate’s schedule canceled I had little to do. I thought I would watch the nominating speeches with you.”

“Sounds exciting.” Stone switched on the TV. “Who’s nominating Kate?”

“Bob Marcus, the junior senator from Georgia. He’ll be last.”

They watched as a Virginia congressman nominated Mark Willingham. From what Stone knew of Willingham, he hardly recognized the man described in the nomination speech.

A Colorado senator nominated Pete Otero, and much was made of the importance of the Hispanic vote in the general election.

“Is Kate watching?” Stone asked.

“I’m not sure, she was sleeping earlier, which is unlike her, but there’s a TV in the bedroom. Marty’s is next, and Governor Collins is nominating him.”

The convention chairman approached the podium and hammered for order. “Fellow delegates,” he shouted, “we have a change in our program. Ladies and gentlemen, the vice president of the United States.”

“Oh, God,” Ann said, “what is this? It’s completely out of order for Marty Stanton even to be in the hall, let alone speak!”

“He must be desperate,” Stone said.

“Look at those faces,” Ann said, pointing at the people on the floor of the convention. “They’re as baffled as I am.”

The vice president approached the podium, wearing a dark suit and a broad smile. He waited for the applause to die but didn’t try to suppress it, then he began.

“Mr. Chairman, delegates to the convention, honored guests, ladies and gentlemen,” he intoned. “I beg your indulgence for having requested to speak to you at this time and I thank Senator Robert Marcus of Georgia and Governor Richard Collins for yielding the platform to me. For many months I have been traveling this great country, speaking, debating, and, along the way, meeting most of you, and I have articulated my vision for the future of our country to the nation at large. I haven’t done quite as well as I had hoped.” This was followed by a shocked noise from the delegates.

Ann sat up in her chair. “Jesus,” she said, “he’s pulling out! He’s going to throw the nomination to Willingham!”

“That must be the news Kate got at lunch,” Stone said.

“It couldn’t have been anything else. No wonder she was so devastated.”

Stanton went on. “After long thought, much prayer, and some very good advice from some very good friends, I have decided not to seek the nomination of my party.”

The audience reaction was a mixture of Nooos, cheers, and general shock.

Chris Matthews’s voice-over came on. “That’s it,” he said, “the nomination is going to Willingham. This is completely unexpected. We all thought that Stanton would fight to the last delegate. He must have had some very bad news.”

Stanton continued. “I have also given a great deal of thought to my next step,” he said, “and I have decided to throw my support — and ask those delegates pledged to me to throw their support — to the candidate I know, from my personal experience, is supremely well qualified to lead our party to victory in the November election. My fellow Americans, it is my honor and privilege to place in nomination the next president of the United States, Katharine Lee!”

The audience went nuts, the band started to play, and people with Kate Lee signs were, apparently spontaneously, marching up and down the aisles. Only the Virginia and New Mexico delegations sat in shocked silence.

Ann pressed the speaker button on the phone on the table between Stone and her and dialed a number.

“Hello?” a sleepy voice said.

“Kate, wake up. Turn on the TV.”

“I’m awake and the TV is on.”

“Did you know about this?”

“I’m sworn to secrecy. I couldn’t even tell Will. Uh-oh, I hear Will running up the stairs. Talk to you later!” She hung up.

“Did you hear that?” Ann said.

“I did,” Stone replied.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Ann said. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

“I think I see the fine hand of Dick Collins in this,” Stone said. “I’ll bet he took Stanton aside and demolished his hopes. I wonder how he did that.”

“I can guess,” Ann said. “I think he must have told Marty that a bunch of the California delegates were going to jump ship on the first ballot — and he may just have told him that his offer of the Senate seat was about to expire. Marty wouldn’t have had the guts to brazen it out through the first ballot and negotiate later.”

“Shouldn’t you go and see Kate?” Stone asked.

“No, she’s with Will. I don’t want to bust in on that. I’d better start making some calls, though. Do you mind if I do it here?”

“Go right ahead,” Stone said.

Ann’s cell phone rang. “Hello? Oh, Governor Otero, how are you? I’m sure she’d like to speak to you, but she and the president are sequestered at the moment. May I have her call you back a little later in the afternoon? Thank you for your patience.” She hung up. “I think that makes it official,” she said. “Pete Otero wants the number two spot and he’s going to be willing to trade his delegates for it.”

“Kate has already said he would be her first choice,” Stone said.

“I think we’re seeing history being made,” Ann said, then started making calls.