Ray Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Ray Sullivan was a fictional Republican
governor of West Virginia
, played by Brett Cullen
. He was a recurring character on the American television show The West Wing
. He was the Republican Party's nominee for Vice President of the United States
in the 2006 election, and the running mate of Arnold Vinick
, a U.S. Senator from California
.
Vinick's first choice as running mate was the Reverend Don Butler
, a conservative televangelist from Virginia
. Vinick defeated Butler in the Republican primaries and, despite Butler's strong criticism of Vinick's pro-choice
views on abortion
, thought highly of him. Without ever specifically being offered the vice presidential nomination, Butler told Vinick that he could serve neither as his running mate nor as his vice president, given their very different views on the abortion issue.
Vinick then turned to Sullivan, who was highly recommended by his staff and by other Republicans. Sullivan was bright and personable, a former United States Attorney
noted for his crime-fighting as a prosecutor, specifically targeting white-collar crime
. He had won the Governorship with 55% of the vote in a normally Democratic state, and won re-election with 61% of the vote in 2004. He was pro-life
on abortion, but welcomed the chance to run with Vinick. Once nominated at the Republican National Convention
, he fulfilled the "attack dog" role often expected of running mates, blasting the administration of Democratic incumbent President Josiah Bartlet
.
In the wake of Vinick's narrow defeat in the 2006 election, Governor Sullivan was widely seen as the front-runner for the Republican nomination in 2010. His previously hard-line conservative image seemed to have softened, as he was described as a "Vinick Republican." This may have rooted from his agreement with Vinick to get in line with his moderate views on almost every issue except for abortion.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
governor of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, played by Brett Cullen
Brett Cullen
Peter Brett Cullen is an American actor who has appeared in numerous motion pictures and television programs. Early in 2007, he was cast as the role of an estranged father to one of the American football players, Tim Riggins , in the NBC drama series Friday Night Lights.Cullen was born in Houston,...
. He was a recurring character on the American television show The West Wing
The West Wing (TV series)
The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
. He was the Republican Party's nominee for Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
in the 2006 election, and the running mate of Arnold Vinick
Arnold Vinick
Arnold Vinick is a fictional character on the television series The West Wing played by Alan Alda.-Biography:A Republican senator from California and Republican presidential nominee, he is narrowly defeated by Democrat Matt Santos in the 2006 presidential election, with Vinick winning the popular...
, a U.S. Senator from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Vinick's first choice as running mate was the Reverend Don Butler
Don Butler
Reverend Don Butler is a recurring character on the American television show The West Wing, a conservative televangelist from Virginia played by Don S. Davis. He was a candidate for the Republican Party's nomination for President of the United States in the 2006 election, but was defeated by...
, a conservative televangelist from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Vinick defeated Butler in the Republican primaries and, despite Butler's strong criticism of Vinick's pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
views on abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, thought highly of him. Without ever specifically being offered the vice presidential nomination, Butler told Vinick that he could serve neither as his running mate nor as his vice president, given their very different views on the abortion issue.
Vinick then turned to Sullivan, who was highly recommended by his staff and by other Republicans. Sullivan was bright and personable, a former United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
noted for his crime-fighting as a prosecutor, specifically targeting white-collar crime
White-collar crime
Within the field of criminology, white-collar crime has been defined by Edwin Sutherland as "a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation" . Sutherland was a proponent of Symbolic Interactionism, and believed that criminal behavior was...
. He had won the Governorship with 55% of the vote in a normally Democratic state, and won re-election with 61% of the vote in 2004. He was pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
on abortion, but welcomed the chance to run with Vinick. Once nominated at the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
, he fulfilled the "attack dog" role often expected of running mates, blasting the administration of Democratic incumbent President Josiah Bartlet
Josiah Bartlet
Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is President of the United States for the entire series until the last episode, when his successor is inaugurated...
.
In the wake of Vinick's narrow defeat in the 2006 election, Governor Sullivan was widely seen as the front-runner for the Republican nomination in 2010. His previously hard-line conservative image seemed to have softened, as he was described as a "Vinick Republican." This may have rooted from his agreement with Vinick to get in line with his moderate views on almost every issue except for abortion.