That’s Republican Party territory, a conservative fortress, the place known as the "Pennsylvania Wilderness."

"Philadelphia is indeed the Establishment Faction’s stronghold," Roosevelt analyzed. "The political machine there is well-oiled, and the spoils are firmly divided. But that’s precisely why it’s the one place where Progressives like Sanders can’t get a foothold."

"There are too many vested interests, and the system is completely ossified."

"And the Vice Governor from Philadelphia is a product of that system. He represents its interests."

"He can win the votes in Philadelphia, but he can’t win the votes in that wilderness in between."

"Those workers living in small Rust Belt towns, those bankrupt farmers, they hate the elites in Philadelphia just as much as they hate the bureaucrats in Washington."

"And that’s our opening."

Roosevelt’s voice grew impassioned.

"Pittsburgh may be poor and in decline, but it’s the epicenter of the swing vote. The working class here feels the pain most acutely, but they’re also the most desperate for change." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"If we don’t make an unconventional play and just rely on the traditional Democratic voter base, he’ll never beat that golden boy from Philadelphia. With the party establishment shutting him out, trying to steal their lunch is a dead end."

"So, we won’t fight them for their voters."

"We’re going to steal the Republican Party’s votes."

"Look at that red wilderness in the middle. The people there have been forgotten by Washington for too long. They’re angry, and they’re fed up with the status quo. The Democratic Party leadership looks down on them, and Republican politicians just assume their votes are in the bag."

"And that’s our opening."

"Take your five hundred million US Dollars, take those tangible job positions, and let Murphy charge into that sea of red. Tell the miners, tell the farmers—don’t talk about ideology. Just talk about bread and steel."

"This path is hard. Extremely hard. It will require Murphy to take off his suit, jump into the mud, and brawl with his opponents. He’ll even have to risk being branded a traitor to the party."

"But if he can pull it off—if he can ride this groundswell of support from the wilderness to win the party primary..."

"...then the general election will be nothing more than a formality."

"Because when a Democrat can start prying away the Republican base, it means he’s unstoppable."

"Tell Murphy to stop worrying about what Philadelphia thinks. We’re going to take a path no one else dares to walk."

"Start a fire in Pittsburgh that can burn its way east along the Allegheny Mountains, scorching a path straight through the wilderness."

Leo opened his eyes.

"John."

He looked at Murphy.

"Your logic is sound, but your premise is flawed."

"You think we need the party’s support before we can issue the bonds. That’s a beggar’s mentality."

Murphy frowned. "Then what’s the alternative? Rob a bank?"

"No."

Leo pointed to Pittsburgh on the map on the computer screen.

"We can’t wait until we have their support to issue the bonds."

"We’re going to use the bond issue itself to hold their support hostage."

Murphy, standing to the side, was stunned. "What do you mean?"

"Think about it. What’s the campaign platform of that Vice Governor from Philadelphia?" Leo retorted. "It’s nothing but the usual, politically correct nonsense: better education, more equality, a greener future."

"That stuff sells well in the coffee shops of Philadelphia. But in the mining districts of Altoona, in the factories of Erie, in the swing areas that will truly decide the winner, nobody’s buying it."

"And you."

Leo pointed at Murphy.

"You’re holding a five-hundred-million-US-Dollar check. You tell everyone this isn’t some pie-in-the-sky promise on paper, but actual cash that’s about to hit their accounts. This money will become steel, concrete, and thousands of sixty-thousand-dollar-a-year jobs."

"You don’t need to go begging Washington for support."

"You have to present them with a *fait accompli*."

Leo’s speech quickened, taking on an incendiary tone.

"We’ll launch the roadshow for the bond issue immediately. We’ll go to the emerging capital funds that are desperate for politically sheltered investments, the ones who want to bet on green infrastructure."

"And at the same time, we go to Sanders."

"Tell him this five hundred million US Dollars is his only hope of implementing his Progressive new deal in the Rust Belt. If we can’t get this bond issued, his entire showcase project collapses."

"For the sake of his own political legacy, to prove his ideology is the right one, Sanders will have to help us. He’ll have to either pressure Wall Street or go to the Federation Agencies to secure a credit guarantee."

"Once Sanders makes a move, all the resources of the Progressives will flow your way."

"And what will the Establishment Faction see then?"

Leo scoffed.

"They’ll see that while their goody-two-shoes in Philadelphia is still memorizing his campaign speeches, John Murphy out west has already assembled an army of Unions, Progressives, and thousands of workers. And he’s swinging a five-hundred-million-US-Dollar sledgehammer, smashing the Republican Party’s ironclad voting bloc in the Pennsylvania Wilderness to pieces."

"When that time comes, it won’t be you begging for the party’s nomination."

"The Democratic National Committee will be begging *you* to run as their candidate."

"Because only you can win them the critical swing state of Pennsylvania."

Leo walked back to the desk, planting his hands on its surface and staring directly into Murphy’s eyes.

"John, stop thinking about waiting in line and taking a number."

"We’re going to build our own ship."

"And this five hundred million US Dollars? That’s our ticket to board."

"There’s only one question now: Do you have the guts to get on board?"

Listening to Leo’s speech, Murphy could feel his heart hammering against his ribs.