Senator Arnold Vinick easily wins the Republican nomination on the night of the New Jersey primary, but has difficulty picking a running mate. Choosing Reverend Don Butler would virtually guarantee him the presidency, but their differing views on abortion and religion would make it a political union rather than one based on shared ideology. The Democratic nomination is a toss-up between Santos and Russell; Hoynes is running a distant third. With no clear nominee going into the convention, the Democratic party risks appearing unsure about both Santos and Russell - a position that President Bartlet does not want the Republicans to be able to exploit.
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- Senator Arnold Vinick
- President Josiah Bartlet
- C.J. Cregg
- Donna Moss
- Leo McGarry
- Josh Lyman
- Charlie Young
- Abbey Bartlet
- Will Bailey
- Kate Harper
- Toby Ziegler
- Matthew Santos
- Annabeth Schott
- Vice President Bob Russell
- Bruno Gianelli
- Sheila Brooks
- Senator Robert Royce, R-PA
- Bob Mayer
- Reverend Don Butler
- Governor Ray Sullivan R-WV
- Anchor #2
- Annie
- Anchorman
- Reporter George
- Sean
- Pundit
- Reporter #1
- Reporter #2
- Reporter #3
- Mark O'Donnell