Object

Midwest Poll

Leo cites the Midwest poll as published, available data already monitored by Sam and now covered by the Office of Political Affairs. This reassures exhausted staff amid campaign chaos and market fears, justifying Sam's removal from the building without halting political oversight. No physical sheets or screens appear; characters invoke it verbally to enforce rest and chain-of-command.

2 appearances

Purpose

Tracks voter sentiment in Midwestern states to guide White House political strategy

Significance

Leo deploys the poll's availability to sideline Sam, underscoring delegation limits and creating a brief gap in hands-on supervision during crisis

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S4E1 · 20 Hours in America Part I

Protocol Over Urgency: Ginger Redirects Sam; Leo Grounds Him

The Midwest poll is invoked by Leo as a completed data point that reduces the immediate need for Sam's political vigilance; it functions narratively as justification to bench Sam and redistribute responsibilities.

Before: Completed and available to staff as a reassuring data point.

After: Still available and serving as the administrative pretext for sending Sam home; no change in physical status.

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S4E1 · 20 Hours in America Part I

Leo Grounds Sam — Rest Now, Politics Later

The Midwest Poll is invoked by Leo as evidence work is sufficiently in hand and to justify sending Sam home. It functions narratively as a concr ete data point that relieves Sam's sense of necessity and seals the delegation of political monitoring.

Before: Released and known to senior staff; its results are available as Leo references them.

After: Still released and serving as the rationale for reassigning responsibilities; its informational role remains unchanged.

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