The president, first lady and w.w. staff travel to Orange County, Calif., to campaign for Sam's bid to win the 47th District congressional seat -- the Nov. winner in the heavily Republican district was, amazingly, a liberal Democrat who, more amazingly, had died a few weeks prior. The president orders Toby to fire Sam's campaign manager, a staunch realist, and take over the campaign with a more idealistic approach. Some conservative voters approach Andrea Wyatt in a bar and give her grief about her out-of-wedlock pregnancy, and Toby and Charlie step in forcefully, landing them in jail. Donna talks, on behalf of Sam's campaign, with a state labor leader who turns out to be a Communist.

In the wake of his daughter's kidnapping, Bartlet must make a decision between being a father and being President.

With Bartlet back in the Oval Office, and back in his wife's bad books, the hunt for a Vice President begins.

The Vinick campaign struggles with the impact of the nuclear accident in California; Josh and Donna have a "moment".