Forging America: My Campaign Manager is Roosevelt

Chapter 359 - 171: Pitching the Tent

Such keen political instincts. Such decisiveness and execution in the blink of an eye.

These were not the qualities of an ordinary Representative.

These were the qualities of a leader.

Sanders’s fingers tapped gently on the table, creating a rhythmic beat.

He was calculating.

Not long ago, the Democratic Party’s Establishment Faction had launched an internal purge. Although they had worked together to fight it off, the Progressives’ power in Congress was still severely crippled.

Several promising young candidates were purged, and seats in several swing districts were now in jeopardy.

As the faction’s leader, Sanders was desperate for fresh blood. More than that, he lacked capable lieutenants who could hold their own and win the tough fights on key battlegrounds.

It seemed now that he had underestimated Murphy.

If Murphy could really pull this off on his own—co-opting this group of Republican Party Mayors and establishing that "Blue-collar Core Team"...

...then the Progressives would have a real force in Pennsylvania, and even across the entire Rust Belt.

This wouldn’t just dramatically increase Murphy’s chances of defeating Warren in the statewide general election.

More importantly, it would significantly boost the Progressives’ influence within the party.

While the Establishment Faction was still patting itself on the back over elite votes in big cities, the Progressives would have already reached into the Republican Party’s staunchest blue-collar heartland.

This was a massive political asset.

Sanders had no reason to refuse.

In fact, he had to support it.

Because he needed Murphy to win, more than ever.

"Good."

Sanders finally stopped tapping.

"John, you’ve given me a surprise."

"I might even call it a shock."

"But it’s a shock I like."

Sanders leaned back in his chair.

"We’ll do it your way."

"You go and handle those Mayors."

"I’ll handle the bureaucrats at the Democratic National Committee."

"I’ll tell them this is the price we have to pay to win a majority in the Senate. I’ll make them shut up and accept this ’big tent’ theory."

"As for the environmental organizations and activist groups..."

Sanders waved his hand.

"I’ll talk to them myself."

"But, John."

Sanders stared at Murphy on the screen, his gaze turning incredibly sharp.

"You have to win this election."

"You’ve made such a big play, brought so many people into the fold, and even bent the party’s rules."

"If you end up losing to Warren..."

"...then we’ll all become a laughingstock."

Murphy met Sanders’s gaze without flinching.

"Don’t worry, Senator."

"I will not lose."

"Because I know the price of failure."

The video call ended.

The screen went black.

Murphy let out a long sigh and slumped into his seat on the campaign bus.

He could feel his back was soaked with sweat.

But he’d won.

He’d won over Sanders, securing for himself the maximum possible discretion.

Leo watched the screen go dark and let out a long breath of his own.

The biggest political obstacle had been removed.

With the "Blue-collar Core Team" as a protective banner, the defections of Smith, Byers, and the others would become legitimate.

They were no longer traitors; they were "Democrats returning to tradition."

’Mr. President.’

Leo thought.

’It seems we’ve found ourselves a pretty good Senator.’

"Yes."

Roosevelt’s voice was tinged with amusement.

"In this business, growth comes at a price. Usually, it’s one’s conscience, or one’s fear."

"Murphy has cast aside fear and taken up ambition."

"Now, he’s a proper wolf."

Leo stood up and walked to the window.

Outside, construction in Pittsburgh continued.

And further away, in Erie and Scranton, a political tsunami that would sweep across the entire state was brewing.

’That big tent... we’ve finally managed to raise it.’

Roosevelt summarized, "This is the essence of American politics, Leo."

"It’s never just one color."

"It’s mottled, chaotic—a fusion of different interests and values."

"But that very fusion is what gives it strength."

"Now, you hold the trump card."

"Go and grind that old face of Warren’s into the dust."

Leo looked into the distance.

"We will."

"Soon."