Word: jarmon
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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McKay has almost impeccable credentials for the job. His ecology speeches and civil liberties record do him credit. He has the good name of his father, redoubtable former Governor John J. McKay (Melvyn Douglas). Furthermore, a visit to Republican Incumbent Crocker Jarmon's campaign picnic convinces him that Jarmon (Don Porter) is an affable fake...
With Lucas oiling up the electoral machine, McKay takes his primary contest handily. In the election he gets so caught up in the fever of the campaign and the persuasiveness of Lucas' tutorials in Realpolitik that he begins gaining points on Jarmon by compromising his principles. At the outset of the campaign, when reporters ask "What about property taxes?" he replies, "I don't know." Later he has learned to refer questioners to complex, five-point position papers prepared by his staff, and to give cagey, vague answers during televised debates...
Eventually he trounces Jarmon on the strength of his charisma alone. The last scene of the movie shows him looking conscience-stricken as he rummages about for his shattered ideals...