Chapter 3

"To you, the people of Indiana, Senator Thornton means jobs, secure borders, freedom to live your lives without outrageous government interference, and the chance to be happy, well paid, and protected from the outrageous behavior and never ending chicanery of the current Administration..."

The applause was so loud it threatened to deafen me. I was reading - well – speaking from a punch list of hot button issues, and interweaving my own words to make it feel real for the people listening. Samantha was right. Their people put together a great outline, and when I delivered the speeches based on their notes, the crowds ate it up.

'Adoring' really did describe the behavior of the crowds. Their approval of Governor Gray was way over the top, and as I got my feet wet, getting ready for the final week before the election, their adoration was like a narcotic to me. The self-centered, egotistical, me-only, behavior of politicians and rock stars came down to this. When the crowd roared you learned to love it so much, you'd do whatever it took to hear it one more time.

I knew I had to be oh so careful. John Gray deserved better than an egotistical bastard, inhabiting his body. As the roaring quieted down, I waited for one extra beat, something I learned as a baseball player, and then continued. "America is a place where we work to make sure our children have enough to eat, a warm, dry, place to sleep, and a few luxuries that we earned with the sweat of our brow and the quality of our intellect.

"Mr. Cutler doesn't look at you and see direct descendants of the Pilgrims and all the immigrants that built America into the world's greatest nation. He sees people he can use to get what he wants. He sees people to whom he can lie, right up until we turn away in disgust. Then, to other crowds he lies about lying to get what you won't give him anymore.

"People like Mr. Cutler," I refused to call that cretin by his title, "think we're tools that they take out when we're needed, use to achieve his goals, then throw in the tool box until we're needed again. To him we are nothing, nobody, and not worth considering.

"Charles Thornton is good, kind, and a decent man of vision, integrity, and honor. His opponent doesn't know the meaning of any of those six words..."

"As I say goodbye, Indiana, let me assure you that next Tuesday Charles Thornton will send the Cutlers of this world a message from you, and it will be delivered by the good people of all fifty states. You are the army of America, determined to recapture our spirit, reclaim our heritage, and restore our freedom.

"When you vote, next Tuesday, step up and tell Cutler and his hoard of special interests living off of your hard earned taxes, that enough is enough, and it's time for WE THE PEOPLE to stand up and roar!!!!!"

... and they did.

For ten minutes the crowd cheered, shouted, stomped their feet, clapped their hands, and joined in a moment of delirious hope for the future.

That's when I understood.

That's when I knew.

America is at a tipping point, and it is our generation that must be sure it tips toward what is right, and good, and honorable. The people of Indianapolis got it. They were with Charles Thornton, and would proudly run out to vote for him. The energy that fed them would carry them into the Thornton Administration with great hope and high expectations.

God help him is he turns out to be a fraud.

My Secret Service contingent tried to hurry me towards the car that would take me to the airport. I was to board a jet to take me to Louisville to do it all again this afternoon. Then tonight I would give a slightly less enthusiastic version of the speech in Buffalo. It was a valiant effort, but the people of Indiana wouldn't have it. They wanted – no – they needed to spend one more minute with me, celebrating what was good about their country. I gave them the time they earned, and then some.

Charles Thornton would follow up in two days, building on the growing momentum and continuing right up until they closed the polls on election night.

In the small Cessna Citation, not in the league with my G5, I was quite pleased to find Samantha waiting. She smiled and said, "You are just a tad too successful Governor Gray. The Senator's inside people think you need to be beside him, not plowing the ground in advance. So ... your travel itinerary is going to change to the same as his. We'll keep the jet for you, just in case you need to fly to put out any fire that Cutler sets, but where Senator Thornton goes, from here until election night, you will be with him.

"Secretary Val Buena is campaigning on the west coast, and the response is good enough. The Senator wants your energy priming the pump for him, as he takes the stage and delivers the knock-out punch to Cutler, soon to be former presidential candidate Cutler." She smiled as she said that, and we both knew it was going to happen just as she said.

"Governor – What do you wish to see when your attackers are tried next year?" This was the one question I wanted to avoid until after Election Day. The truth was easy. I wanted them dropped in a deep whole and the dirt piled on top. That was a bad answer, so I took the high road.

"Miss Kelley, those two men didn't try to kill me, they tried to murder a young mother and her child. Those two ladies, one a tiny child, never hurt anyone, nor do they have the power to do so. Our system of justice knows exactly what to do with them, and I suspect the jury will too."

That's as far as I was going, and she knew it and wisely changed topics.

"Governor, how do you see things shaping up for Tuesday? Even though you're not running, it seems like you have put yourself way out there for the Senator and could see your popularity suffer big time if he loses."

That was a great segway. "I will tell you this; Charles Thornton won't just win, Tuesday night. He will crush Cutler into the oblivion of retirement. We won't have to beat him again because Charles Thornton did it so thoroughly this time."

Meghan Kelly actually laughed at that, but pulled it together and said, "Those are strong words. Are you so sure of the outcome that you are willing to go on the record with this prediction?

"There's no risk in stating the obvious. America has had it with career parasites, living off of us, using us, lying to us, and pretending to care every time they're up for election. Mr. Cutler is about to find that out the hard way.

"Now, if you will excuse me, I have a plane to catch. It was great chatting, and I look forward to our next time." I used the exit line to get away before she pinned me down, and I had to cover something John Gray's laptop didn't teach me.

As my handlers maneuvered me through the immense throng of people towards our exit, I heard Meghan Kelley telling the FOXNEWS viewers that, "Governor John Gray of Kansas put it as clearly as anyone ever could. America is tired of the kind of government Michael Cutler represents, and we are ready for a change that – come Tuesday – will likely alter our course for years to come.

"John Gray. Remember that name, America. He is a force, and we will doubtlessly hear of great things from him in future elections. America could do far worse than John Gray, and has many times over. I, for one, can't wait to see what the future holds for the young, kind, heroic, Governor of Kansas.

"I'm Meghan Kelley, reporting for FOXNEWS. Now back to the studio and Brett Behr."