Forging America: My Campaign Manager is Roosevelt-Chapter 87 - 63: The Washington Way

Montoya leaned forward and lowered his voice.

"The White House has already called me three times. The President is extremely anxious. This bill is the core achievement for his midterm elections. If the bill dies in the House of Representatives, killed by our own infighting, the President will kill us."

"To jeopardize the entire party’s midterm election prospects over a mayoral primary in Pittsburgh... it’s not worth it."

Walker fell silent.

He took a harsh drag from his cigar, the thick smoke obscuring his expression.

Of course, he knew it wasn’t worth it.

But he couldn’t just let it go.

"So we just let him win like that?" Walker retorted. "That kid, Wallace... if we let him win the primary, it sends a signal to all the progressives across the country."

"It encourages more ’Leo Wallaces’ to stand up, challenge our people, and seize our territory."

"When that happens, our situation in the swing states will spiral even more out of control."

Montoya nodded.

"I agree. We can’t let the Progressives do whatever they want."

"So, we need to reach an agreement. One that can both resolve the immediate crisis and limit the Progressives’ expansion."

Walker raised an eyebrow. "I’m listening."

Montoya held up one finger. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"First, the data blockade in Pittsburgh must be lifted immediately. I know it was those people at the National Committee who did it. Tell them to back off. And have the local committee issue a statement saying it was a technical error, and apologize to Wallace."

"This is Daniel’s bottom line. It’s also necessary for him to save face with his supporters. We have to give him this."

Walker snorted but said nothing, which meant he tacitly agreed.

Montoya held up a second finger.

"Second, in exchange, Daniel’s side must make a substantial concession. He must guarantee that in next week’s vote on the supplementary clauses for the Regional Economic Recovery Bill, all thirty votes from the Progressive caucus will be ’ayes.’"

"Not a single vote can be missing. There can be no more ’accidents.’"

"This is the White House’s bottom line, and it’s our bottom line. We need the political victory of passing this bill to stabilize our position for the midterms."

Walker nodded.

"That’s fair. He gets the public victory, and we get the substance. But that’s not enough. What about that kid in Pittsburgh? If he actually wins, how do we settle that score?"

Montoya held up a third finger, his expression growing meaningful.

"Third, and most importantly, is the final solution for Pittsburgh."

"Both our sides will completely pull out of Pittsburgh."

Walker froze for a moment. "Pull out?"

"That’s right," Montoya explained. "No more interference from Washington. Neither us nor Sanders will send any more resources or influence into that district."

"We turn Pittsburgh into a sealed gladiatorial arena."

"Let the incumbent Mayor, Carter Wright, and that challenger, Wallace, fight it out fair and square in that cage."

"Whoever walks out alive gets to represent our party in the final election."

"We will only recognize the outcome."

Walker began to seriously consider the proposal.

"This is interesting."

"But it’s risky," Walker pointed out. "What if Wallace wins? We just have to hold our noses and accept him?"

Montoya smiled.

"Raymond, you’re overestimating that kid."

"The reason he’s acting so pragmatically, so restrained, is because he knows he isn’t strong enough to challenge the entire system directly. He didn’t leak this to the media or make a public fuss. He’s just applying pressure within the party through Sanders. That shows he’s a smart guy."

"But if we keep interfering, if we decide to play hardball, things will be different."

"Then, he’ll paint himself as a victim persecuted by Washington bureaucrats. That kind of sob story is the easiest way to stir up voter emotions."

"Once we pull out and restore his data access, his mantle of victimhood vanishes."

"He’ll have to return to the reality of the election, and everything will go back to being framed within the context of a party primary."

"And in this election, Carter Wright is the incumbent Mayor, after all. He’s been running Pittsburgh for eight years. He has a base, name recognition, and that moneybags Morganfield watching his back."

"On a level playing field, the chances of a rootless upstart defeating a well-resourced incumbent Mayor are infinitesimal."

"By pulling out, we’re actually helping Carter Wright."

"If Carter Wright still loses with that kind of advantage..." Montoya spread his hands. "Then that just proves he’s a hopeless fool, and that kind of person doesn’t deserve to represent our party anyway."

"Besides, if Wallace really does win on his own merits, it proves he really knows what he’s doing in the Rust Belt. It won’t be too late to recruit him then."

Walker pressed the cigar in his hand into the ashtray, forcefully grinding it out.

He was a pragmatic man.

Montoya’s plan, while costing him a direct opportunity to suppress the Progressives, perfectly diffused the immediate crisis, saved the bill the White House valued most, and also gave the Establishment Faction a chance to turn the tables in Pittsburgh.

It was a classic stop-loss transaction.

In Washington, nothing is off the table, as long as the price is right.

"Fine," Walker finally said. "We’ll do it your way."

"You handle Daniel, and I’ll handle those idiots at the National Committee."

"But, Kod, you tell Daniel this is the last time."

"If he tries to pull any stunts in next week’s vote, I’ll purge him and his flock of followers from the committee, even if it means losing the midterms."

"Understood." Montoya stood up. "I’ll make him understand."