protect our children and take our nation forward. Carolyn Alden Lane is already fighting those battles. She is my partner, and I say we join her. Together, we can rebuild America. Together, we can overcome the plague of drugs, hunger, homelessness, and hardship. Together, we can again become the greatest nation on earth.”
The crowd cheered and clapped their hands high in the air. A group began chanting, “Warner, Warner…”
Warner held out his hand to stop the applause. “But tonight I come to you for a special purpose, because I truly need your help. I need your permission to pursue this office. I gave you my word that I would finish my term as senator before running for the presidency. So I come to you now and ask that I be relieved from that commitment. If you say no, I will respect your wishes. If you say yes, then it’s on to the White House.”
The crowd roared. “Lane for President. Lane for President…”
Warner flashed a big neon grin. Strobes exploded. Carolyn walked forward with Warner. They raised their clasped hands high in the air. The audience surged to their feet, again, clearly enthralled. Together they stood on the edge of the stage beaming, pointing and waving to familiar faces below in the crowd. They had their answer.
THIRTY-ONE
Pleased with the successful launch of Warner’s candidacy, Carolyn called a meeting the next day to discuss strategy for grooming their candidate for the primaries. Matt and Ernie, who clearly understood that Carolyn was the guiding force behind the man employing them, addressed Warner’s image.
Ernie began. “We feel the best angle for Warner is the ‘hometown boy done good.’ Warner’s humility and vulnerability are quite endearing and we want to capitalize on those traits. Our polls show that these qualities make women swoon and men trust him.”
“Warner’s got this image nailed in Missouri and the southern states, but we’ve got to translate it across all regions of the U.S.,” Matt said. “So, we need to work hard on your diction and communication skills.”
Ernie met Warner’s gaze. “Your accent needs to be toned down. In effect, your voice inflection needs to be homogenized so as not to ring any discordant bells with voters from other states.”
Like a tag team, Matt continued where Ernie left off. “The northern states will notice any type of southern accent. Everywhere Warner goes, we want him to appear to be the boy next door. We want people to relate to him. The best way to do that is to have him look and sound like one of them, or more to the point, who they’d like to be if given the chance. So, I’ve taken the liberty of hiring a voice trainer.”
Ernie took up the strategy. “there’s an interpersonal communication technique called ‘matching’ that we’ll key in on. It’s effective in all types of interpersonal interaction, but especially politics. Often, a politician will use region-specific jargon or a mannerism common to the group he’s addressing. This works on the subconscious, although people rarely realize why they feel so comfortable. Simply put, people like what’s familiar to them.”
“For example.” he continued. “In some parts of the country people will say soda when asking for a carbonated beverage. In other regions they order pop. Both terms mean the same thing, but they’re demographic specific. It’s our job to make sure you ask for a pop in the right places and a soda elsewhere.”
“We sure are paying you two a hell of a lot of money to tell me how to ask for a Coke,” Warner said.
They all laughed.
“Warner’s already a master of sustained eye contact while speaking to a crowd,” Nick commented. “He doesn’t need much practice with that.”
His gaze was like the Pied Piper’s flute, Carolyn thought wryly, drawing women to him in droves.
“Our secret weapon, however, is Warner’s memory. He remembers names and details of people he’s met by the thousands, and he’s able to make these people feel they’re of critical importance to him. I’ve watched you do it. Warner. Very impressive.” Matt slapped him on the back.
Warner preened.
“Our other secret weapon is Carolyn. She’s a woman of our times, and the voters like her willingness to support her husband’s goals, even though she’s successful in her own career.”
Carolyn smiled. A lot of political savvy had gotten them to this point, she thought. But political favors aside, she and Warner had the social expertise to cajole supporters out of buckets of money at fund-raisers.
She waited for a lull in the conversation. When it finally came. Carolyn got to her feet. “I think we need to confront a potentially difficult issue – Richard Young.” She looked at Warner. “I know he’s your friend, but we can’t afford to ignore the threat he poses to your nomination.”
“I’ll handle Richard. You just concentrate on how to make me a better candidate.” Warner said, his tone so harsh that everyone in the room glanced at him.
“We can’t afford to be naive.” she said. “Young will demolish us in the primaries. We need to neutralize him, or we can kiss the nomination good-bye.”
She saw the muscles in Warner’s jaw flex in anger, but she continued to challenge his gaze. She wouldn’t let him sabotage himself out of some misplaced sense of loyalty to a colleague.
“You heard what I said. I’ll handle it.”
“Warner, he might be your friend, but he’s also an adversary.”
“End of discussion.” Warner rose from his seat.
Carolyn shrugged to conceal her dismay and began to gather up the files she’d brought to the strategy session. Somehow, she had to protect Warner from himself “I guess we’re adjourned, gentlemen.”
THIRTY-TWO
The next morning, Carolyn left early for the courthouse, aware that she needed to catch Mark before he became too invoked with his caseload.
His face brightened when he saw her. “This is a pleasant way to start the day,” he said, setting his newspaper on his desk.
Carolyn took the chair across the desk from him. She continued to take the moral high road where Mark was concerned, in spite of his frustration with her aloof behavior and her own need for companionship.
“Don’t look so bleak,” she said.
“Why not?” he asked, sounding unexpectedly terse. “I’m used to seeing you at least twice a week. Now, I’m lucky to get a glimpse of you on television.”
“You aren’t being fair, Mark.”
He hesitated, the pause long and lonely. “I’m sorry, I just miss you.”
Sadness draped her, soaking into her bones like a cold winter rain. Although it hadn’t been her intention, she’d hurt Mark. She cared deeply for him, and she valued his friendship. And she believed he loved her. But she couldn’t knowingly contribute to the destruction of his family.
“Me, too.” she said. “It’s just that things are crazy right now, trying to get the staff and organization in place for the primaries.”
“I know, I know. Can’t you take a few hours off for an old friend?”
“You know I can’t.” She reached across the desk, placing her hand on his. “I need your help.”
“Sure, what can I do?”
“It’s time to collect the last payment from Mort. I want to make sure that he’s sorry he pulled his support.” She shook her head in disgust. “Once we have that money, we don’t need him anymore. I’m going to use the funds for a special project I want you to set up. If there’s a way to delay paying taxes, that’s the route we need to take. Pull strings if you have to.”
“What’s this project about? Is it for the campaign?” Mark sat back in his chair, tapping one finger on the barrel of the pen in his hand.
“Of course it’s for the campaign. Remember the firm we used for Rudly and Fields?”
“Sure.” His lips drew back into tight line.
“It’s time to set up a permanent staff to investigate possible candidates for the nomination.” Carolyn stood and
