Ep 5. Debate Camp

In "Debate Camp," the fifth episode of The West Wing's fourth season, the Bartlet campaign prepares for its first presidential debate against the Republican opponent, Governor Robert Ritchie. President Bartlet and his team are pulling out all the stops to get him ready, with the help of seasoned political strategist Joey Lucas and a debate coach named Al Kiefer.

The episode opens on the eve of the debate, as the Bartlet team gathers for a final rehearsal. The tension is palpable as each member of the team tries to fine-tune their strategy. Toby is obsessed with the format of the debate, Josh is worried about the optics of the campaign, and CJ is trying to keep everyone calm while juggling her own preparations.

Meanwhile, the President is holed up in his debate "war room" with Joey and Al, grinding through debate prep. It's clear that this debate is his top priority, and he's determined to come out on top.

Over the course of the episode, we see the Bartlet team grapple with a number of challenges. Sam is tasked with coming up with a "zinger" for the President to use during the debate, but he's struggling to come up with something that's both clever and substantive. Charlie is on the hunt for a perfect debate suit for the President, but he's stymied by the fact that the President has lost weight since his last suit fitting. And Donna is trying to convince Josh to take some time off and relax before the debate, but he's convinced that he needs to stay on the job.

Despite these challenges, the team comes together to support the President. They coach him through tough questions, drill him on policy details, and work around the clock to make sure he's well-rested and ready to go.

The debate itself is a tense affair. Governor Ritchie proves to be a formidable opponent, spouting folksy aphorisms and painting the President as out of touch with "real Americans." But Bartlet remains calm and composed, offering detailed responses to the moderator's questions and carefully countering Ritchie's attacks.

As the debate ends, the Bartlet team watches nervously for the post-debate spin. They're relieved to see that the instant polls show Bartlet as the clear winner, and they celebrate with champagne and pizza.

But the celebration is short-lived. The team knows that there are still many more debates to come, and that they'll need to stay on their game if they want to keep the momentum going. As the episode closes, we see them heading back to the campaign trail, ready to tackle whatever challenges come their way.