The 2024 Election Campaign Is One for The Books

(Imaginary letter to my imaginary publisher of political fiction)

Dear Bob:

I have an idea for a new work of political fiction. Please consider it, although at first glance you might feel it’s too implausible for our readers. Here’s the summary:

Two candidates for U.S. president. Both are about 80 years old and showing their age. Polls say that voters are unhappy with this choice. More that 60% would prefer someone else.

You’re probably wondering why if they’re both so unpopular, and both have cognitive and other health problems, they become nominees for leader of the most powerful country in the world. Just remember, I’m talking fiction here.

The Assassination Attempt and Its Impact

Moving on. Before he is officially nominated, the challenger is shot, the would-be assassin’s bullet just nicking his ear. He and his supporters attribute his survival to providence. They say God spared him because God wants him to be president. The Secret Service and local police knew the would-be assassin was there, in position with a high-powered weapon, but didn’t stop him before he fired.

If you think that’s weird, the challenger immediately creates a likeness of himself as a bobblehead doll with a bandaged ear and begins selling it on his website.

Meanwhile, the incumbent loses massive support because of a disastrous debate performance and is forced to abandon the campaign. He’s replaced by a woman (no woman ever has been president), who’s married to a Jewish man (no Jewish person ever has been president or vice president). She’s Black, her husband’s White, a marriage that would have been illegal in many states not long ago. (Some serious racial, gender and religious barriers to break here, all in one package).

The Challenger's Unraveling

This development mentally unravels the challenger, who already has shown serious signs of mental instability and disdain for both Blacks and women.

Despite the best efforts of the challenger’s campaign advisers who want him to campaign on issues, the challenger spends most of his time attacking his new opponent on her name, her appearance, even how she laughs, and he conjures conspiracies about election fraud well before voting even begins.

Speaking of fraud, I should have mentioned this earlier, the challenger has been convicted of 34 felonies. Other serious felony indictments against him are awaiting trial dates.

That’s as far as I’ve thought the story through. I’m not sure where it goes from here. Here are some possibilities:

Potential Twists and Turns

Another assassination attempt on either candidate? (Millions of military grade weapons are out there held by a lot of angry people, including dangerous armed groups that call themselves “militias.”)

It’s likely that scandalous information will be introduced into the campaign, either real or invented using artificial intelligence. If so, are Russia, China, Iran, North Korea or other foreign powers behind them?

What about health issues? The challenger has heart and cognitive problems. Do they affect the outcome?

I should have mentioned earlier that two shooting wars are taking place concurrently with the election. Either could escalate any time, with campaign consequences.

The economy’s always an important factor in elections. What if interest rates stay high? Or there’s a recession? Or a stock market crash? The stock market often goes south in October.

The candidates will debate on national television. A poor performance by the incumbent president cost him the nomination. Debates are a real wild card.

Oh, I also should have mentioned that sentencing of the challenger for his felony convictions could be handed down during the campaign. That sentence could include a jail term. Would that help or hurt his chances?

Endless Possibilities

I know this story line seems implausible. But don’t reject it out of hand. I’d like to think a bit more about how it ends. If this doesn’t work as a book, possibly a movie? Comedy? Drama? Thriller? Nightmare?

So many possibilities.

Joe

Comments? Criticism? Contact Joe Rothstein at jrothstein@rothstein.net