America 1982-Chapter 491 - 92: The Jews Arrive_2
The first internal party nomination speech was the internal primary held within the Democratic Party’s Eighteenth District, where party members listened to the candidates’ speeches to cast their votes and determined the number of votes these candidates received. Essentially, once the first nomination speech concluded, apart from the top two, no matter how many candidates were left behind, they wouldn’t have another opportunity, because the election campaign that followed would see the Eighteenth District Democratic Committee focus only on the first two candidates. Then, during the second round of internal nomination speeches, based on party interests and candidates’ abilities, the committee would decide which one of the two to fully support. Furthermore, they would persuade the other candidate to call on his supporters to switch support to his opponent, consolidating all forces to ensure unity and the ability to oppose the Republican candidate chosen in the same manner.
Of course, candidates ranked lower could still participate in the second round of the party election, but essentially, without the party’s resources favoring them, they had no chance at victory.
"In five days," Martin said to Tommy, "there are a total of 24,886 registered Democrats in the Eighteenth District. Excluding those who cannot attend due to various reasons, roughly 22,000 Democrats will participate in the primary nomination vote. According to our team’s calculations, at least 5,500 nomination votes are needed to have a shot at being second in the fray among nine candidates. Our current simulations show Jeff’s best result is fourth place, with 1,800 votes. His racist campaign slogan is rejected within the Democratic Party, because the Eighteenth District Democratic Committee believes that Rosario Kennedy, that Cuban woman, can win over the local Cuban-American voters’ support. Additionally, her image could also improve the stereotypical conservative image of Cuban-Americans previously held against the Democratic Party."
"Before the primary, we need to create momentum for Jeff," Tommy said, pinching his chin and looking over at Jeff, who was still passed out.
In the past two weeks, Martin had learned about many of the election business’s tricks and, following Tommy’s train of thought, said, "Notify those veterans to hold an impressive pre-primary rally? But for an internal party nomination primary, these ordinary public gatherings aren’t meaningful and are unlikely to shake the Democratic Party’s decision."
"We were planning to arrange a minor traffic accident for Jessica, weren’t we? Let’s change the script and hold the momentum-building rally on Coral Road in Southern Miami before the primary, and have Jeff and his entire family attend. Choose a good venue." Tommy fell silent for a dozen seconds before lifting his head and saying to Martin:
"Take money and pay BT Television’s local affiliate to broadcast it live for me, and also, make them spread the recording to all of BT Television’s affiliates across America. I don’t care if BT charges two hundred thousand or three hundred thousand; pay them. I need to ensure that all BT Television’s affiliates in America broadcast ’Today’s Black News’ special report on this rally."
"You’re looking to clean that political dirty money, Boss?" After hearing Tommy’s plan, Martin asked in a lower voice.
Coral Road in Southern Miami neighbored Little Havana and was a gathering place for many of the lower-middle-class Jewish people. Martin didn’t think the Jewish community would support Jeff because among the Democratic candidates was one who claimed to be of Jewish descent. It was likely that his boss’s real intent was to donate the sum of money from the cult church to Jeff’s campaign committee in the guise of "advertising fees" paid to BT Television, thereby cleaning it up successfully.
"No, I want to check how much influence BT Television has after operating for so long. And I think, Jewish people should also hate Cubans," Tommy said, petting Martin’s head affectionately as if looking at a pet: "Call Page, tell him to come see me. I haven’t seen him for so long, I kind of miss him."
...
As night fell, at the dining table in Jeff’s home, Tommy unceremoniously took the seat of honor, with Jeff, Jessica, Gina, and Jeff’s four children, Zack’s two best buddies Zack and Allen, Martin, and Marcus sitting around the table like devout followers beside Jesus.
Tommy cut off a piece of beef steak still oozing with myoglobin and chewed it with big bites: "When I was in Tallahassee, someone taught me to eat steak like this. He said that a steak cooked to medium-rare, though tougher and less digestible than one cooked to medium, allowed you to appreciate the richness of its bloodiness. And the most important thing, you get to enjoy the food faster than the fools who only eat steaks cooked to medium."
"If I were him, I’d rather just sink my teeth into a live cow’s ass," Allen, one of Jeff’s smarty-pants friends, interjected.
"Shut up, Allen. The point of the story is getting to the meat faster than others! Not gnawing on a cow’s ass! Christ, it’s a miracle Jesus didn’t go crazy preaching in Florida," Tommy spat out his food, cursed at Allen, then turned to Jeff, who was cracking up at Allen’s comment, and said:
"Starting today, don’t let me see that dumb smile on your face again, Jeff! Think of something that angers you! Like, you’re carrying the dreams of countless veterans, countless veterans like your father waiting for you to save them! Stop goddamn laughing!"
Jeff naturally had a fierce expression. As long as this guy kept his face stern and stopped smiling, shaved his head, took off his shirt, and rode a Harley through the streets, even the police would avoid him, and everyone would mistake him for one of those hard-edged characters in a white gang.
