Conspiracy

18

“Let me put it this way,” Brian Wilson told Senator McSweeney as he began the slide show on his laptop. “If it weren’t for the possibility of collateral damage, I’d say you should get shot at every week. You’ve gained four to five points in the polls in every state. The metrics are definitely trending in your direction.”

Jimmy Fingers rolled his eyes. Though in his early thirties, Wilson looked as if he were still a college kid, and dressed the part. He constantly sprinkled terms like “metrics” and “coefficients” into his talk. Jimmy Fingers wasn’t so old-fashioned that he would ever allow a candidate to seek office without a pollster, even if he was only running for dog-catcher. Still, Jimmy resented the tendency to reduce everything to numbers, and thought they were way overvalued.

What did people think of McSweeney? That was what was important, after all. Did they think he was lucky to be alive? Or did they think he was special enough that the assassin’s bullet had missed because of fate or God’s hand?

The answer meant a world of difference. But of course Wilson didn’t even ask the question.

“There are a few days left to make an impression for Super Tuesday. With all the publicity about the assassination attempt, I’d like to shoot a spot emphasizing your war record,” suggested Brian Carouth, the campaign’s media con sul tant, after the pollster wrapped up. “I think it will play very well.”

“No. We don’t need to do that,” said McSweeney. “The spots we’re using have done just fine.”

“A little more biography—” suggested Carouth.

“Issues are what’s important,” said McSweeney. “My health plan, immigration, taxes. That’s what we pound.”

“Now, Senator, as we all know, people vote for the man, not the white paper,” said Wilson. He glanced at Jimmy Fingers, probably expecting him to help, but Jimmy said nothing. “And a war record is a big plus. It says a lot about a man’s character.”

“The Vietnam War is not the negative it once was,” added Carouth. “That’s ancient history.”

“There’s no need to bring up my military record,” said McSweeney. “We’ll leave it alone.”

Jimmy Fingers recognized from McSweeney’s tone that he would not change his mind on the matter, even as Wilson continued pushing the ads. It was refreshing to see the consul tant strike out so decisively, thought Jimmy Fingers.

Truth be told, Jimmy Fingers actually agreed with Wilson. But since when was truth an important ingredient in a political campaign?