Forging America: My Campaign Manager is Roosevelt

Chapter 324 - 160: The Great Earthquake

Washington D.C. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

The building, the heart of the Democratic Party’s resources for Senate elections nationwide, was in utter chaos.

Phones rang incessantly. Data analysts sprinted down the hallways while policy advisors argued in conference rooms.

"How could he lose? Monroe’s data model was perfect!"

"There’s something wrong with the data from Pittsburgh! There must be something fishy with the mail-in ballots!"

"We have to request a recount! We have to sue!"

Amid the chaos, Harrison Boyd, the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, remained unusually calm.

He sat in his spacious office, holding a freshly printed election analysis report for Pennsylvania.

"Quiet."

Boyd’s voice echoed through every corner of the building via the intercom system.

"The election is over, gentlemen. There’s nothing wrong with the data, nothing wrong with the process, and nothing wrong with the result."

"This was just the primary."

Boyd put the report down.

"We have only one goal: to hold our majority in the Senate. Since Monroe lost, it just means he didn’t have what it takes to win the general election."

"As for that Murphy... the fact that he could claw his way to victory in that red Rust Belt means he has his value."

"We need him."

Boyd stood up, walked to a map, and pointed his finger at Pittsburgh.

"Let’s be realistic, gentlemen. Ten minutes ago, Murphy was our problem. Now, he’s our hope."

"Call Murphy. Tell him he’s the pride of the party. Tell him we’re going to give him the best resources, the most funding, and the most professional team."

"We need to embrace him. Immediately."

Boyd’s gaze grew profound.

"At the same time, we need to cut his ties with those radicals, especially that little mayor from Pittsburgh."

"We need to package Murphy as a mainstream, stable candidate who can represent the interests of the entire state."

"We’re going to pull him out of that swamp, wash him clean, put him in the most expensive suit, and send him down the red carpet in Washington."

...

「Senate Office Building, Sanders’s Office.」

"AHAHAHAHA!"

A hearty laugh erupted from the office, so loud it nearly made the assistant outside drop their files.

Sanders was laughing so hard that tears were streaming from his eyes.

Wiping his glasses, he said to Marcus, who was beside him, "See? I knew it! I knew that kid from Pittsburgh could do it!"

"Even though we had to pretend to have a falling out, even though I chewed him out, he delivered a vicious slap to the Establishment Faction on our behalf!"

"And what a loud slap it was! So damn satisfying!"

Sanders put his glasses back on, the laughter in his eyes slowly fading.

"But, Marcus."

"Now, the real test is just beginning."

"The Washington swamp is about to start swallowing Murphy."

"Those people at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will swarm him like flies, making promises, giving him resources, trying to assimilate him."

"I hope he remembers who got him here."

"I hope he remembers that his roots are in Pittsburgh."

...

「Washington D.C.」

Russell Warren turned off the television.

The irritating celebration on the screen vanished, leaving only the crackling of firewood in the study’s fireplace.

A vicious glint flashed in Warren’s eyes.

"I gave Murphy a hand, Carl."

Roves, standing to the side, nodded. "Sir, that was a risky move. Murphy has incredible momentum right now. He just pulled off an impossible comeback."

"I know."

Warren picked up the election analysis report from his desk—a deep-dive data-mining report on the Democratic primary.

His gaze skipped over Philadelphia and fixed on the red areas of Western Pennsylvania—Erie, Scranton, and the area around Allegheny County.

That was supposed to be his backyard, a Republican stronghold.

But in this primary, the data from these areas showed some disturbing anomalies.

"Look at this, Carl."

Warren pointed at the data for Erie County.

"In the past month, over three thousand voters who were originally registered Republicans suddenly changed their party registration to Democrat and then voted for Murphy."

"Three thousand people. Statewide, that’s just a drop in the bucket. But in that specific district, it’s a dangerous signal."

"It means those blue-collar workers—the ones who usually only listen to Fox News and believe only in God and guns—are starting to waver."

Warren put down the report, his expression turning grim.

"I used to think that mayor in Pittsburgh was just a little clever."

"But now, it seems I’ve underestimated them."

"That so-called Pennsylvania Industrial Revival Alliance isn’t just an empty shell. It’s actually working."

"It’s funneling Pittsburgh’s money and influence right into my territory, following the highways and railroad tracks."

Warren stood up and walked to the map of Pennsylvania hanging on the wall.

His gaze locked onto the locations of all the cities involved in the alliance.

"Ron Smith, Joe Byers... these mayors usually bow and scrape when they see me, begging me for even the smallest bit of federal funding."

"Now, they’ve got contracts from Pittsburgh, and they’ve grown a spine."

"They don’t dare oppose me openly, but they’ve tacitly allowed the Unions to support Murphy, and have even privately encouraged voters to switch sides."