This ranks as one of my favourite episodes for the rather uneven season 6. And what makes it special is the arrival of Senator Arnold Vinick as the presumptive Republican presidential candidate.
Unlike the presidential campaign in season 3, where the Republican candidate (the right-wing Richie) was barely seen, seasons 6 & 7 change all that by giving some respectable airtime for the feared/revered Vinick character.
The writers also made the senator as a far more appealing moderate conservative, which only makes him far more dangerous in the eyes of the White House, especially when Leo tells Josh how Vinick has such a broad appeal when on the lecture circuit that he could bring in wavering Democrats during the campaign, especially since their own candidates - VP Russell and untrustworthy Hoynes - are not particularly likable and certainly don't have the same intellectual gravitas as Vinick or Bartlet.
Alan Alda, was a great choice as Vinick - tall, imposing, fatherly, self-aware and barely any malice in his observations of the Democratic party. So it was a pleasure to watch Leo & Josh visibly unsettled at how they were going to confront and challenge Vinick should he win the candidacy for the Republicans, and go on to challenge in the presidential campaign.
Unlike the presidential campaign in season 3, where the Republican candidate (the right-wing Richie) was barely seen, seasons 6 & 7 change all that by giving some respectable airtime for the feared/revered Vinick character.
The writers also made the senator as a far more appealing moderate conservative, which only makes him far more dangerous in the eyes of the White House, especially when Leo tells Josh how Vinick has such a broad appeal when on the lecture circuit that he could bring in wavering Democrats during the campaign, especially since their own candidates - VP Russell and untrustworthy Hoynes - are not particularly likable and certainly don't have the same intellectual gravitas as Vinick or Bartlet.
Alan Alda, was a great choice as Vinick - tall, imposing, fatherly, self-aware and barely any malice in his observations of the Democratic party. So it was a pleasure to watch Leo & Josh visibly unsettled at how they were going to confront and challenge Vinick should he win the candidacy for the Republicans, and go on to challenge in the presidential campaign.
