The Labyrinth Campaign by J. Michael Sweeney Page A

asked Steve Bess to revisit many of the key components of the campaign and have recommendations to me by end of day. But that’s not going to be enough. We need a giant boost. We need to announce the alliance with The Future State Foundation. We need David Ellis to go to the media and announce his support for the Will Hawkins campaign for president. It needs to be one of those fiery, passionate speeches that motivates the masses and makes the girls swoon. We can use all the female voters we can get.”
    “I agree,” Will said, “but even that might not be enough. We have to do something big. Something that will catapult us to the front of the pack.”
    “Got any bright ideas?”
    Will shot him a dirty look and said, “As a matter of fact, I do. I’ve been going over this in my mind for days, and I think I’ve come up with a plan.”
    “Well, come on, what gives?”
    “John, whatever is said in this office is strictly confidential, right?” “Of course, Will. Our objectives are 100 percent aligned. Now, what’s the idea?”
    “I’m not sure where to start, so I’ll go from the very beginning. The genesis of this idea came while I was pondering the weaknesses of President Hughes. I think we all believe I can win the Democratic candidacy. It’s beating Hughes and his fucking impenetrable approval ratings that have us worried.”
    “I agree. Go on.”
    “So the key to accelerating my poll numbers is to capitalize on a weakness of the president. Now, my key platforms of economy, ecology, and drugs are all relative weaknesses of the current administration. Having any significant impact on the economy or the war on drugs is beyond our control. But people’s ecological concerns offer some interesting opportunities.”
    “I’m not sure I understand,” Rollins said. “Cleaning up the environment and passing meaningful legislation aimed at industries not in compliance with current environmental acts is every bit as difficult to impact as the other two.”
    “I agree,” Will smiled, “but you’re missing the simpler avenue. We don’t focus on fixing the problem. We focus on making it a bigger problem for President Hughes.”
    Rollins looked puzzled and for a rare moment was speechless.
    Will continued, “A few strategically placed environmental mishaps, and President Hughes has a shitload of bad press on his hands. That, coupled with a few heartfelt and passionate speeches regarding the legacy we are creating for our children and, voilà! Chinks in the presidential armor and arrows in the Will Hawkins quiver. Not to mention a huge motivator for David Ellis to get vocal about Will Hawkins as America’s agent of change.”
    Rollins was stunned but intrigued. “But how do you propose we make these incidents happen without you—or should I say us—getting dirty?”
    “It’s actually simpler than it sounds,” Will said, smiling. “Did I ever tell you who my college roommate was?”
    “No, as a matter of fact, you didn’t.”
    “Carlos Pendrill.”
    “The Carlos Pendrill? The Mexican financier and drug cartel leader? Jesus, Will, when were you planning on springing this one on me? That type of surprise could really hurt us!”
    “Now, John, I know it’s not optimal, but his family was not suspected of drug trafficking at that time, and it’s not like we play golf together on weekends. In fact, we haven’t spoken in over ten years.”
    “So what does he have to do with the ecological undermining of President Hughes?”
    “Well, when we graduated from Oxford, we did a little bar-hopping the night before we both came back to this side of the pond.”
    Will explained about the night in the bar, the ensuing fight, and how he had most assuredly saved Carlos Pendrill, now the most powerful and feared man in Mexico, from being beaten to death in the alley behind a London pub.
    “So you see, John, Carlos Pendrill owes me one. My repayment for saving his life is a few well-placed environmental accidents