"Oh, forgive me. What would you like? Coffee? Whiskey - ?"
"No. We're pretty well stimulated already."
Again, Oliver wondered what was going on.
"I've just flown in from Washington. There's a pretty influential group there who think you're going to be our next president."
Oliver felt a small thrill go through him. "I - really?"
"As a matter of fact, the reason I flew down here is that it's time for us to start your campaign. The election is less than two years away."
"It's perfect timing," Peter Tager said enthusiastically. "Before we're through, everyone in the world is going to know who you are."
Senator Davis added, "Peter is going to take charge of your campaign. He'll handle everything for you. You know you won't find anyone better."
Oliver looked at Tager and said warmly, "I agree."
"It's my pleasure. We're going to have a lot of fun, Oliver."
Oliver turned to Senator Davis. "Isn't this going to cost a lot?"
"Don't worry about that. You'll go first-class all the way. I've convinced a lot of my good friends that you're the man to put their money on." He leaned forward in his chair. "Don't underestimate yourself, Oliver. The survey that came out a couple of months ago listed you as the third most effective governor in the country. Well, you have something that the other two don't have. I told you this before - charisma. That is something that money can't buy. People like you, and they're going to vote for you."
Oliver was getting more and more excited. "When do we get started?"
"We've already started," Senator Davis told him. "We're going to build a strong campaign team, and we're going to start lining up delegates around the country."
"How realistic are my chances?"
"In the primaries, you're going to blow everyone away," Tager replied. "As for the general election, President Norton is riding pretty high. If you had to run against him, he'd be pretty tough to beat. The good news, of course, is that since this is his second term, he can't run again and Vice President Cannon is a pale shadow. A little sunshine will make him disappear."
The meeting lasted for four hours. When it was over, Senator Davis said to Tager, "Peter, would you excuse us for a minute?"
"Certainly, Senator."
They watched him go out the door.
Senator Davis said, "I had a talk with Jan this morning."
Oliver felt a small frisson of alarm. "Yes?"
Senator Davis looked at Oliver and smiled. "She's very happy."
Oliver breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad."
"So am I, son. So am I. Just keep the home fires burning. You know what I mean?"
"Don't worry about that, Todd. I - "
Senator Davis's smile faded. "I do worry about it, Oliver. I can't fault you for being horny - just don't let it turn you into a toad."
As Senator Davis and Peter Tager were walking through the corridor of the state capitol, the senator said, "I want you to start putting a staff together. Don't spare any expense. To begin with, I want campaign offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, and San Francisco. Primaries begin in twelve months. The convention is eighteen months away. After that, we should have smooth sailing." They had reached the car. "Ride with me to the airport, Peter."
"He'll make a wonderful president."
Senator Davis nodded. And I'll have him in my pocket, he thought. He's going to be my puppet. I'll pull the strings, and the President of the United States will speak.
The senator pulled a gold cigar case from his pocket. "Cigar?"
The primaries around the country started well. Senator Davis had been right about Peter Tager. He was one of the best political managers in the world, and the organization he created was superb. Because Tager was a strong family man and a deeply religious churchgoer, he attracted the religious right. Because he knew what made politics work, he was also able to persuade the liberals to put aside their differences and work together. Peter Tager was a brilliant campaign manager, and his raffish black eye patch became a familiar sight on all the networks.
Tager knew that if Oliver was to be successful, he would have to go into the convention with a minimum of two hundred delegate votes. He intended to see to it that Oliver got them.
The schedule Tager drew up included multiple trips to every state in the union.
Oliver looked at the program and said, "This - this is impossible, Peter!"
"Not the way we've set it up," Tager assured him. "It's all been coordinated. The senator's lending you his Challenger. There will be people to guide you every step of the way, and I'll be at your side."
Senator Davis introduced Sime Lombardo to Oliver. Lombardo was a giant of a man, tall and burly, dark both physically and emotionally, a brooding man who spoke little.
"How does he fit into the picture?" Oliver asked the senator when they were alone.
Senator Davis said, "Sime is our problem-solver. Sometimes people need a little persuasion to go along. Sime is very convincing."
Oliver did not pursue it any further.
When the presidential campaign began in earnest, Peter Tager gave Oliver detailed briefings on what to say, when to say it, and how to say it. He saw to it that Oliver made appearances in all the key electoral states. And wherever Oliver went, he said what people wanted to hear.
In Pennsylvania: "Manufacturing is the life-blood of this country. We're not going to forget that. We're going to open up the factories again and get America back on the track!"
Cheers.