RUTHLESS

January 2, 2020 7:45pm “The results should begin to be coming in at any moment.” Jed Parsons began as he was conversing with Texas Senator Zeke Roy Jackman. Parsons was 33 and stood a lanky 6’0” while weighing 150 pounds. His black hair was combed back with a part to the right side. His cowlick was pronounced at the back of the top of his head. It protruded like an appendage. His gray suit was pressed as well as his white dress shirt and matching gray tie. His black dress shoes did not look like it had a scuff on it. “Looks like Richie Rich will have to wait another day before he can say that he has won.” Senator Jackman replied. At 55, the 6’4” 180 pound Texan was well dressed as a Texan can be. His black suit had recently been a Christmas gift from his wife Stella who was advised by his campaign workers to help Jackman shed his “Tex” persona. Jackman reluctantly went along with it, but deliberately chose to keep his Texas mannerisms. The senator had been confident all along that he would defeat his main rival New York Governor James Frederick Curry. Curry had been running second in polls not only in Iowa, but also nationwide. Senator Jackman was considered by not only the party insiders, but by many Democrats to be the presumptive Democratic nominee by the week before Labor Day when the Democratic National Convention convenes in Philadelphia. “We have been polling very well here.” Parsons noted as the campaign manager for the three-term senior Senator from Texas was confident that the threat to supplant Senator Jackman from being the Democratic front runner would not materialize at least this very evening. “I have no question that it will carry over into a victory for us before the night is over.” Senator Jackman acknowledged. “How are you coming along on your victory speech?” Jed inquired. “I’m almost done with it. I had to tweak a couple of things.” Zeke noted as the two men had been carrying out their conversation from two different rooms on the sixth floor of the Des Moines Hilton. “Can I read it when you’re ready?” Parsons now asked as he was now watching the results begin to trickle in. He proceeded to disregard them since only five percent of the polling places were now reporting the results. “Give me a minute and you will be reading it.” Jackman responded. “I was wondering if you prepared a concession speech.” Jed wondered aloud as fifteen percent of the precincts were now announcing their results. “Why would you say something like that?” Zeke mused as he disregarded the suggestion that Parsons made a week earlier. “We had this conversation last week.” Parsons replied as frustration now began to creep into his voice. Twenty five percent of the results were now in. “I didn’t see why I should prepare one then and I don’t see the great need to prepare one now.” Jackman snarled with his pronounced Texas drawl. “I think you need to come in and see the results that are now coming in. I have no question that you will reconsider what you have been saying,” Jed shot back. Senator Jackman walked in and saw the results coming in and he snatched the remote from Parsons’ hand and channel surfed to the other channels that were showing the results of the Iowa Caucus. The results were ranging from twenty five to thirty two percent of the precincts. Jackman then looked at Parsons and said “Two thirds to seventy five percent of the precincts have yet to release their results. We have nothing to worry about yet.” “If Governor Curry wins here tonight, I would be very concerned about our chances about getting the nomination. You know that he will win New Hampshire five days from now.” Jed protested. “With forty five percent of the precincts reporting, it looks like we could have an upset in the making this evening. Senator Zeke Jackman is running a distant second to the upstart New York Governor James Frederick Curry. Jackman had been considered to be the presumptive Democratic Nominee this year, but with a loss here tonight as well as a likely defeat in New Hampshire a week from tonight could suddenly put the nomination in doubt for the three term Senate Majority Leader from Texas.” the reporter from CNN began as he continued “This would be a huge statement for the Curry campaign that his candidacy is a legitimate one. We could very well be getting ready for what could become a very long and protracted campaign for the Democratic Presidential Nomination.” “I think we have shown that ignorant tobacco spitting, rail biting, oil stained ignorant Texan a thing or two.” James quipped. “We may need him for the vice presidency.” Jeff acknowledged. “Who says that I’m going to pick him as my running mate?” James began “We don’t need him.” “I think you’re making a huge mistake.” Jeff started as he then continued “You know that this could become a long and drawn out race for the nomination. Once we clinch it, we could lose a lot of Jackman supporters if you don’t choose him as your running mate. This alone will likely cost us the election.” he lectured. Do I need to remind you about the importance of uniting the party in order to win?” “John Kerry picked John Edwards as his running mate back in 2004 in an attempt to unite the party and he didn’t win the election as I recall. Barrack Obama didn’t pick Hillary Clinton as his running mate in 2008 and he still won the election that year.” James argued. “Kerry made a lot of mistakes and the African-American population came out in full force and voted for Obama.” Jeff said as he was debating his older brother on the importance of uniting a party in order to win a presidential election.