Adiós, Leon. We Hardly Knew Ye.
Updated 2005-10-13 17:00:00
It's a West Wing-free week on The West Wing, as we watch the two campaigns struggle to control the agenda. Vinick tries to throw Santos off his stride by focusing on immigration issues, calling for a doubling of the Border Patrol, praising and condemning citizen vigilantes patrolling the border, and introducing legislation to create a guest worker program. He also draws Santos into an "I voted for it before I voted against it" trap by bringing up the Central American Free Trade Agreement. But things aren't perfect for Vinick -- he gives Santos another opening on security issues by canceling an appearance at the VFW, leaving the field open for Santos (an actual V of an FW) to make a speech to the group. And Vinick gets caught lying to a representative of a right-wing religious group about the judges he would appoint, potentially creating a rift with this important bloc of voters. But Vinick's biggest loss is personal, as a long-time Latino staff member decides that he can't be involved in the campaign against the first Latino nominee for President, and resigns.