Did "The West Wing" Predict the 2008 Election?

Posted Mar 3rd 2008 4:50PM by TMZ Staff

The writers of "The West Wing" were using a helluva magic eight ball! The last two seasons of the show have some strange coincidences with the 2008 Presidential race.

SlateV.com created a video comparing the similarities between Barack Obama and Jimmy Smits' character, Matt Santos. A writer for the show, Eli Attie, admits Smits character was directly shaped by Obama. The writer even met with one of Obama's political consultants, who was working on his campaign for Senate at the time.

In the show, a Congressman of color runs for the Democratic nomination and the primary race is so close it leads to a brokered convention. Smits opponent is better-known, funded and experienced. Freaky!

P.S. -- Santos won the nomination and went on to win the presidential election.

Filed under: Prez Election 2008

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(Page 3 of 5)Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. so did NBC report thier writing, editing, political consultant fee and production costs as an in-kind advertisment for obama on an FEC report??????? i haven't raised political money since before mccain-feingold passed, but sounds like someone thought through a loophole very carefully and strategically............

Posted at 7:21PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by former fundraiser

32. #30 - Start packing your bags.......................................

Posted at 7:48PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Dallas

33. obamas the only hope to get rid of the establishment war loving, amnesty loving neos hillary and mccain, whose votes are all but identical on immigration, war, no child left behind, judges, spying, torture, etc....

Posted at 8:01PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by rlang72

34. Obama is taller than McCain - history sez the taller candidate always wins - and that isn't McCain - isn't Hillary taller than him too?

No way a Republican can win this time and it's gonna be really hard to stop the Obama machine - he's got young voters excited and VOTING - he's gonna ride the under 30 voters right into the Whitehouse. Lets just hope he has the good sense to create a strong cabinet and bring in experienced advisors to make up for his lack of experience in national politics, foreign affairs, diplomacy and ecomomics. HE's smart and a quick study but he's got a LONG WAY to go to be truly Presidential.

And the only voters who see Obama as black/Muslim weren't gonna vote for Hillary either...in fact, they don't really want to vote for McCain either. Too bad there isn't an IQ test for voters - ignorance, bigotry and stupidity should get you voter registration card revoked.

Posted at 8:23PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by The Tall Guy Wins

35. I think it is time for change and a minority just might make it happen, if you keep doing the same thing the same way you will get the same results. This country has gone to hell it is a MESS a big mess I might add. If another Rep gets in office we are in big trouble and the number of millionaires will decrease for sure. I am no fan of Hillary she's not ready, she thinks because her "husband" was a president makes her prepared I don't think so. If it has to be Obama I'll take it just get that jackass out of the office, heck my dog could do a better job than he has. He has managed to ruin this country in just 8 short years, it's amazing what greed can do. and he has proved it. I feel for whom ever gets in because they have their hands full trying to fix the mess we are in now. All I can say is "good luck"

Posted at 8:28PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Transitioning

36. Re: comment #29: WTF? Where do you get your stats on Bill Clinton?? I think EVERY "fact" you state is wrong, but the one that that is the MOST wrong is about his approval rating (upon leaving the WH.) You state that it was 80% ("unheard of" you say) when in reality he left with an approval rating of 65%. Sometimes as low as 36% ('93.) Also, I found it interesting that his two lowest approval ratings happened at the approval of NAFTA and when his (Hillary's) health care initiatives failed. Ironically, his highest a.r. (73%) happened following his impeachment. As far as Bush's, his end of term a.r. will be better than both Carter, Nixon and Truman (his was in the low 20's.) I am sick of "history" being distorted and spun. Don't get your history from the media, get the FACTS.

Posted at 9:11PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by txman

37. Which vote is more important: "young voters" or baby boomers? The latter have the greater numbers and historically vote conservative. Also, Hispanics, who have supported McCain and Hillary more than Obama. Both have done more for Hispanic causes than Obama. He mentioned this week that he "prays to Jesus." Personally, I think he'd pray to whatever gets him elected, but take a look at his church that he has gone to for the past 20 yrs. Is a rasict church so much better than a Mormon? No one is attacking O on that!

Posted at 9:21PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by txman

38. santos wasn't supposed to win in the original writing. they plot was only change to where Santos wins after a nuclear accident happened in Vinick's senatorial state. and when he did, he appointed his right-win opposite as his vice president...hmm.

Posted at 9:39PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by marivelle

39. No, the United States is definitely not ready for a president named Barack Hussein Obama. He's more of a used car salesman/televangelist (is there even a difference between those two?), and is ill-equipped to LEAD this country. It's embarrassing that this is the best candidates we can get for President.

Billary and B.Hussein Obama (shortened to "BO") are more like two Saturday Night Live characters than actual political leaders. They've done nothing to convince me of their ability to lead this country back to the top spot of civilized countries.

Posted at 10:38PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Barack Hussein Obama Won't Win

40. "And the only voters who see Obama as black/Muslim weren't gonna vote for Hillary either...in fact, they don't really want to vote for McCain either. Too bad there isn't an IQ test for voters - ignorance, bigotry and stupidity should get you voter registration card revoked.

Posted at 8:23PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by The Tall Guy Wins"

IQ tests for voters...good idea....wonder how many of the voters that are voting for Obama just because he is black would fail that test???

Posted at 10:49PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Amy

41. 35. Obama is taller than McCain - history sez the taller candidate always wins - and that isn't McCain - isn't Hillary taller than him too?

Nice try...John Kerry and Al Gore are both taller than GWB...guess that isnt always a true statement

Posted at 10:49PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Amy

42. #39 -- you are so right. Unfortunately, black people do not have a great track record in politics. Certainly the current mayor of Detroit isn't a 'leader'. And who can forget Marion Barry, the District of Crack...err, Columbia mayor.

Read Freakonomics if you want to understand the shortcomings of 'African-Americans' -- actually, I'm going to dispense with the ridiculous AA prefix and simply refer to them as black people.

Posted at 10:59PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Barack Hussein Obama Is Not Very Presidential

43. Whitecloud- you are 70 and blog on TMZ? that is awesome, i wish my grandparents were that cool!

Posted at 11:08PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Ali

44. I would not even think of voting for someone who would use crack no matter who they are or what age they are. That tells me a lot about their character. You are who you really are when no one is watching. Talk about bigotry what about Michele and the church they attend. He said he had gone to the same church for 20 years then why did it take him so long to denounce some of the things that preacher says? Also didn't his sponser Oprah say on one of her shows many years ago that she had tried crack too. Scary. Not my vote. Give me someone anyone besides this. Hey Ralp are you still running?

Posted at 11:26PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by a voter

45. For those saying Obama couldn't beat McCain, check this link.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but it would be nice if people at least had informed opinions.

Posted at 11:48PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by BethAnn

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