Jeffrey Archer - Sons of Fortune

Tom took the call and rushed in without knocking. ‘You won, you won, 11,792 to 11,673 — it’s only by a hundred and nineteen votes, but it still puts you in the lead in the electoral college, 29–27.’

The next day, the leader in the Hartford Courant did point out that no one had lost any money by investing in the Cedar Wood project, and perhaps the voters had made their intentions clear.

Nat still had to face three more caucuses and two more primaries before the candidate was finally selected. He was therefore relieved to find that Cedar Wood quickly became yesterday’s news. Elliot won the next caucus 19–18, and Nat the primary four days later, 9,702-6,379, which put him even further ahead as they approached the final primary. In the electoral college, Nat now led 116-91 and the polls were showing him seven points ahead in the town of his birth.

On the streets of Cromwell, Nat was joined by his parents, Susan and Michael, who concentrated on the older voters, while Luke and Kathy tried to persuade the young to turn out. As each day passed, Nat became more and more confident that he was going to win. The Courant began to suggest that the real battle lay ahead for Nat when he would have to face Fletcher Davenport, the popular senator for Hartford. However, Tom had still insisted that they take the eve-of-poll television debate with Elliot seriously,

‘We don’t need to trip up at the final hurdle,’ he said. ‘Clear that, and you’ll be the candidate. But I still want you to spend Sunday going over the questions again and again, as well as preparing for anything and everything that might come up during the debate. You can be sure that Fletcher Davenport will be sitting at home watching you on TV and analysing everything you say. If you stumble, he will have issued a press statement within minutes.’

Nat now regretted that some weeks before he’d agreed to appear on a local television programme and debate with Elliot the night before the final primary. He and Elliot had settled on David Anscott to conduct the proceedings. Anscott was an interviewer who was more interested in coming over as popular than incisive. Tom didn’t object to him as he felt the occasion would act as a dry run for the inevitably more serious debate with Fletcher Davenport scheduled for some time in the future.

Reports were coming back to Tom each day that volunteers were deserting Ralph Elliot in droves and some were even switching over and joining their team, so by the time he and Nat arrived at the television studio they both felt quietly confident. Su Ling accompanied her husband, but Luke said he wanted to stay at home and watch the debate on television so he could brief his father on how he came over to the larger audience.

‘On the sofa with Kathy, no doubt,’ suggested Nat.

‘No, Kathy went back home this afternoon for her sister’s birthday,’ said Su Ling, ‘and Luke could have joined her, but to be fair he’s taking his role as your youth advisor very seriously.’

Tom came rushing into the green room and showed Nat the latest opinion poll figures. They gave him a six per cent lead. ‘I think only Fletcher Davenport can now stop you becoming governor.’

‘I won’t be convinced until the final result has been announced,’ said Su Ling. ‘Never forget the stunt Elliot pulled with the ballot boxes after we’d all assumed the count was over.’

‘He’s already tried every stunt he can think of and failed,’ said Tom.

‘I wish I could be so confident of that,’ said Nat quietly.

Both candidates were applauded by the small television audience as they walked out on to the stage for a programme billed as ‘The Final Encounter’. The two men met in the centre of the stage and shook hands, but their eyes remained fixed on the camera.

‘This will be a five programme,’ David Anscott explained to the audience, ‘and we’ll be going on air in around five minutes. I will open with a few questions, and then turn it over to you. If you have something you want to ask either candidate, make it short and to the point — no speeches, please.’

Nat smiled as he scanned the audience, until his eyes came to rest on the man who had asked the Cedar Wood question. He was sitting in the second row. Nat could feel the sweat on the palm of his hands, but even if he was called, Nat was confident he could handle him. This time he was well prepared.

The television arc lights were switched on, the titles began to roll, and David Anscott, smile in place, opened the show. Once he’d introduced the participants, both candidates made a one-minute opening statement — sixty seconds can be a long time on television. After so many sound-bites, they could have delivered such homilies in their sleep.

Anscott began with a couple of warm-up questions which had been scripted for him. Once the candidates had given their replies, he made no attempt to follow up anything they had said, but simply moved on to the next question as it appeared on the autocue in front of him. Once the interviewer had come to the end of his set piece, he quickly turned it over to the audience.

The first question turned into a speech on choice, which pleased Nat as he watched the seconds ticking away. He knew Elliot would be indecisive on this subject, as he was willing to offend neither the women’s movement nor his friends in the Roman Catholic church. Nat made it clear that he supported unequivocally a woman’s right to choose. Elliot, as he suspected, was evasive. Anscott called for a second question.

Watching from home, Fletcher made notes on everything Nat Cartwright said. He clearly understood the underlying principle of the education bill and, more important, he obviously thought the changes Fletcher wanted to bring about were quite reasonable.

‘He’s very bright, isn’t he,’ said Annie.

‘And cute too,’ said Lucy.

‘Anyone on my side?’ asked Fletcher.

‘Yes, I don’t think he’s cute,’ said Jimmy. ‘But he has thought a great deal about your bill and he obviously considers it an election issue.’

‘I don’t know about cute,’ said Annie, ‘but have you noticed that at certain angles he looks a little like you, Fletcher?’

‘Oh no,’ said Lucy, ‘he’s much better looking than Dad.’

The third question was on gun control. Ralph Elliot stated that he backed the gun lobby and the right of every American to defend himself. Nat explained why he would like to see more control of guns, so that incidents like the one his son had experienced while at elementary school could never occur again.

Annie and Lucy started clapping, along with the studio audience.

‘Isn’t someone going to remind him who it was in that classroom with his son?’ asked Jimmy.

‘He doesn’t need reminding,’ said Fletcher.

‘One more question,’ said Anscott, ‘and it will have to be quick, because we’re running out of time.’

The plant in the second row rose from his place bang on cue. Elliot pointed at him in case Anscott was considering anyone else.

‘How would the two candidates deal with the problem of illegal immigrants?’

‘What the hell’s that got to do with the governor of Connecticut?’ asked Fletcher.

Ralph Elliot looked straight at the questioner and said, ‘I’m sure I speak for both of us when I say that America should always welcome anyone who is oppressed and in need of help, as we have always done throughout our history. However, those who wish to enter our country must, of course, abide by the correct procedure and meet all the necessary legal requirements.’

‘That sounded to me,’ said Fletcher, turning to face Annie, ‘over-prepared and over-rehearsed. So what’s he up to?’

‘Is that also your view on illegal immigrants, Mr Cartwright?’ asked David Anscott, a little puzzled as to what the questioner was getting at.