The nomination celebrations were still going on downstairs. Nevertheless, there were several people in the hallway outside the nominee's suite of rooms. Some looked nervous, some looked tired but freshly showered, a couple smoked cigarettes despite the glares they earned. This was time for seriousness and no one wanted to talk to each other out of fear of revealing any sign of weakness. The smokers knew they were provoking some of the others; this pleased them.
Everyone in the hall wanted drink. Strong drink and quick refills. What they had, instead, were cups of coffee and bottled water. The potential for ugliness was huge. Everyone needed to be sharp and in full possession of every political ability they'd developed. Negotiations were about to begin.
The representatives of the losing "inevitable" candidate knew the Party wanted some form of unity. At the same time, they knew that their candidate was disarmed in many ways. She couldn't run against an incumbent Democratic President in 2012; she'd lose like Kennedy lost in 1980. And there was a tremendous pressure to go ahead: be the first woman Vice President of the United States. Her chances were much better than Ferraro's in 1984. There were also the new Cheney rules; the office of the Vice President had developed powers undreamed of by the Founding Fathers. There was also the chance the future President would decide to keep to one term before going off to be a saint or something...and who were those people down at the end of the hall? Weren't they from Arizona and Kansas? I think there's even one from California. My God! The future President is holding a gun to our heads!
The representatives of the young Black Senator from Illinois looked at the representatives of the woman Senator from New York. They knew their candidate was closer in politics to the future President than the New York Senator. Not a perfect fit, to be sure, but a fit nonetheless. On the other hand, they knew the Party wanted a unity ticket and their candidate was second choice for the second spot. It had been an ugly fight for the soul of the Party. Many people were angry, many were sad, many were bruised. If negotiations broke down between the Tennessee people and the New York people, Illinois would be summoned. The question was, though, what would they do if they weren't summoned? What if reconciliation was brokered between Tennessee and New York? Should they just walk away and wait eight years? What if their candidate was offered Secretary of State or Ambassador to the United Nations? Could they say no? This question made them look at each other and then at the representatives from New Mexico, North Carolina and Connecticut. What if they weren't offered anything at all except a promise of Presidential support in the Senatorial reelection campaign!
The people from New Mexico, North Carolina and Connecticut looked at New York and Illinois. They knew what was coming. The question was whether the future President would decide to reach right past the top two and disappoint all of their followers. It seemed unlikely but then the future President had already shown that he was going to do things his own way. He had a strange attitude, almost a glow, about him as if he'd made his decisions long ago and had no real reason to change his mind. He was going to have his people where he wanted them. If they turned him down, he'd be unhappy for only a moment. He knew exactly who he'd ask next. The New Mexico people thought it would make a mighty statement if the future President chose a Latino for his Vice President but knew the Party, and then history, would demand considering the woman and the Black first. The New Mexico people were prepared for an offer of Secretary of State. The North Carolina people wondered why they were even in the hall. They knew the Vice Presidency offer was unlikely and their guy probably didn't want it anyway. On the other hand, a term as Attorney General might create firm grounds for a run at the Presidency in 2012. After all, their guy would be only the same age as the future President was now. The Connecticut people were prepared to negotiate. Their guy could return to the Senate with head held high. On the other hand, he could probably have any of the Cabinet positions he chose except, perhaps, Secretary of State.
The people from Arkansas paced the hall. Their guy had damaged himself by not being a candidate in his own right and had backed the loser, besides. On the other hand, their guy had made a real name for himself in the Party by campaigning and raising money for local candidates. There was his former job, of course. Nothing anybody had in the hall could compare to what their guy used to do. The people from Arkansas smiled at each other; something good was going to be offered.
The people from Ohio wondered what was going to happen to them. They could get hosed badly or they could get a name job as a nod to an extreme in the Party. They'd find out soon. The Ohio people looked at the Arizona, Kansas and California people and knew what was up. They smiled; this was going to be good. Theatrical. Cosmic, and this thought made them chuckle, which earned them disapproving looks.
Everyone in the hall looked up, some in shock, some in horror, some with true dread, some instinctively pouring over memories of failed support and past slighting comments, as a lone man exited the elevator and walked purposefully to the suite doorway. He didn't even have to knock nor wait. A Tennessee aide opened the door for him and the man from Vermont stopped for only a moment to adjust his tie...