How would you run Matt Santos campaign? (The "West Wing")

[bluestateguy]

I would have a "southwestern" strategy for him. Since Vinnick is from California, Santos won't be able to take California for granted as Democrats have been able to do since 1992. I'd also target Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico. As for Texas, I'm not sure how much statewide appeal he would have, seeing as how he has only been elected in Houston. Texas Hispanics are also more likely to vote Republican than their counterparts in other states. At the same time, I think Vinnick needs to be put on the defensive in Texas, since Santos will have to fight to win California. I would also have him target Florida. Then there is the religion issue: Vinnick is a near atheist, which still bother the religious right of the Republican Party. Santos is a liberal practicing Catholic. I'd have Santos play up his religious beliefs a lot in the campaign, linking liberal principles with his Catholic faith. The atheist wing of the Democratic Party will just have to deal with it. This strategy may not bring in many fundamentalist Christians for Santos, but it may demobilize them to stay home on election day.

[Bucky]

1. How did the show make a "near atheist" GOP candidate look plausible?

I haven't followed the West Wing in a couple of years. How do they explain in the show how an obvious bogeyman of the religious right could become the Republican nominee? And are they dealing with the impact of the Dems nominating back to back Catholics? That seems at least somewhat noteworthy.