Ep 1. Manchester: Part 1

In the season three premiere of The West Wing, titled "Manchester: Part 1," the show picks up where it left off in the season two finale. President Bartlet's decision to run for re-election has ended up being a close call, and now his staff must deal with the fact that Bartlet's father has passed away. This episode also marks the introduction of new cast member Rob Lowe, who plays a lawyer named Sam Seaborn.

The episode begins with a flashback to 1944, which shows a young Jed Bartlet visiting his father, who is running for governor of New Hampshire. The elder Bartlet tells his son that people are attracted to leaders who have courage, vision, and a willingness to fight for what they believe in.

In the present day, Toby, Josh, and Leo meet with a group of pollsters to discuss the upcoming election. They review polling data and strategize about how best to appeal to voters. Meanwhile, CJ briefs the press on Bartlet's bus tour, which is happening in New Hampshire. The tour is seen as a chance for Bartlet to connect with voters on a more personal level.

Sam, who has just joined the Bartlet campaign, meets with a group of Democratic lobbyists. He explains that the campaign will be pushing for a strong anti-gun stance, which surprises and concerns the lobbyists. Sam argues that it is important for the party to stand for something and not just rely on negative campaigning.

In New Hampshire, Bartlet is holding a town hall meeting when he is informed that his father has died. Bartlet is visibly shaken and struggles to gather himself. He later confides in Leo that he feels guilty for not visiting his father more often, and worries that he is not living up to his father's expectations.

Meanwhile, Toby and Josh are getting frustrated with the lack of progress in Bartlet's campaign. They feel that they need to do something radical to shake up the campaign and get voters excited again. They come up with the idea of having Bartlet endorse a candidate in the New Hampshire primary, which would be seen as a bold move.

The episode ends with Bartlet holding a press conference to announce that he will be endorsing a candidate in the primary. He refuses to answer questions about who he will be endorsing, but the press is clearly eager to find out.

Overall, "Manchester: Part 1" is a strong season premiere that sets the stage for the rest of the season. The episode does a good job of balancing the personal drama of Bartlet's father's death with the political maneuvering of the campaign. It also introduces some intriguing new plotlines, such as the introduction of Sam Seaborn and the plan to endorse a candidate in the primary. Fans of The West Wing will not be disappointed.