Popular Democratic Party (United States) President Andrew Shepherd is preparing to run for re-election. The President and his staff, led by White House Chief of Staff and best friend A.J. MacInerney, attempt to consolidate the administration's 63% United States presidential approval rating by passing a moderate crime control bill. However, support for the bill in both parties is tepid: Conservatism in the United States do not want it, and Liberalism in the United States think it is too weak. If it passes, however, Shepherd's re-election is presumed by his staff to be a shoo-in, and Shepherd resolves to announce the bill, and the Congressional support to pass it, by his State of the Union.