Chapter 1

Governor Bruce Calahan knew that he would miss Susie Brock alot- in fact, it really saddened him when she had to leave for Harvard, but he knew intellectually that it was best for both of them. She needed to get a Harvard degree, and he needed to get busy on his re-election campaign. He knew that the other party was going to put up a tough candidate this time- one who would be much harder to beat. He would have to spend more time on the campaign trail, which would have left little time for him to spend with his sweet Susie.

He was musing about this as he prepared to meet with his new campaign manager today- the one that his party's chairman had recommended to him. She came with much of a reputation for being a "killer"- a really ruthless staffer out to do what it took to get her man elected. Calahan had to replace his last manager because the man had been caught using cocaine after the 1st year of his term. He wondered about this replacement. Would she live up to her "nasty" reputation? If so, would there be friction and tension in the campaign offices?

"Hello, Governor Calahan? I am Elizabeth Chancery, your new campaign manager.", a short, petite, seemingly non-threatening woman with horn-rimmed glasses announced.

"Yes, I've heard a great degree about you, Ms. Chancery. Well, are you ready to begin working on your first day of this campaign?"

"Certainly, but please call me 'Liz'. I like being called that better than 'Ms.'- that's an old joke of mine!"

"Not the ultra-feminist type, eh?"

"No, but I throw people off by dressing like one sometimes- it keeps them guessing."

"Ah, so you make yourself enigmatic- mysterious, as a kind of psychological warfare."

"Yes, my shortness helps me be less threatening to men, but my clothes confuse the sisters as to my agenda. I like having fun at their expense."

"I see. Well, enough about that; we have work to do. Tell me, first of all, what kind of theme should we go for, to start out best in the voters' minds? Should we go positive, emphasing the accomplishments of my administration, or start targeting the potential opponents, before any of them wins the primary this year?"

"Well, positive sir, for now, because we don't really know who our opponent will be, and attacking someone who isn't nominated would just stir up trouble and waste our time. I do think that we should go visceral, somewhat, if you get my drift."

"Visceral- do you mean that I should try to appeal to their guts, as it were? Get a kind of credibility advantage, to make them instinctively side with me?"

"Exactly- especially with women, because you have advantages there already, and you should exploit those to get female votes."

"What sort of advantages?"

"Well, first of all, you're handsome, relatively young, charming, and a bachelor, so they are able to kind of view you sexually and even indulge any crushes they might already have on you, sir."

"Crushes? Well, I knew that I was somewhat sexy, but you're talking of me in the same way that people used to speak of JFK, RFK, or Bill Clinton. Won't that backfire with some girls? I know that many will be drawn to vote for a man they find appealing, but what about the fact that I am known as a rake- won't that image reinforce my reputation, and make the more old-fashioned ladies suspicious of me?"

"Well, it didn't stop girls from voting for Clinton, did it? For some, your reputation will be helpful, because despite their protests to the contrary, a lot of women are drawn to a womanizer- must be, or the womanizer wouldn't succeed. Many of women feel that a womanizer is an 'alpha male', though they'll never admit, of course. In the voting booth, no one will pressure or know for sure how or why they voted. It's just down to them, and their feelings about you."

"A cogent point, but am I really that appealing to that many girls? I mean, what age bracket are we talking about?"

"Several. I'm 34, for instance, and I find you attractive."

"Really, I thought you were a lesbian- that's what I'd heard."

"I am bisexual, sir, so I did have a girlfriend once, which no doubt contributed to the rumor."

"Oh, I see. Well, we'll have to watch ourselves, won't we?"

"Why's that? I'm not the type to kiss and tell, or throw silly sexual harassment charges at you later. I wouldn't be opposed to dating you, sir, if you were interested."

"That's nice to hear. Just remember that my reputation as a skirt-chaser is accurate. I've only been faithful to one woman in my life, and then only for a semester. That's about how long I figure that I can last with only one girl."

"That's fine, sir, but I'm not the jealous type. I want to be free to sleep with both men and women, and I'm not going to give my partner any excuse to monopolize me or resent my flings."

"Very well. I think that us dating may be alright then, especially as it would give you extra motivation to work hard for me."

"True, now about the rest of your immediate campaign themes..."

The 2 of them got back to work, but the ice was now broken, as they had admitted their interest in each other. There was some sexual tension in the air, now, however, and they would have to act on their interest soon, or it would just build. Both of them knew that, and as they wrapped up the first day of working together, Governor Calahan decided to take the initiative and propose their first date.

"So, how about my place, at 9:00 pm tonight?"

"What's for dinner?"

"Prime rib, asparagus, and baked potatoes."

"Sounds splendid. I'll be there on time, sir, and I don't think that anyone from your Mansion staff will be surprised to see a campaign worker at the Governor's residence."

"That's certainly true, but you don't need to call me 'sir', anymore. If we're dating, even casually, you can me 'Bruce' in private. In front of the others, of course, you should just call me 'Chief'- everyone does, and they'll know whom you're talking about."

"Chief, as in a Celtic chieftain?"

"Exactly, it's an Irish thing."

"Alright, that's cool. I'll do that, Chief."

When she arrived, Liz saw everything ready as Governor Calahan had indicated, and she also saw that he was talking on the phone to someone.