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'''''The West Wing''''' (1999 - 2006) was a TV show depicting the term of U.S. [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] President Josiah Bartlett (played by [[Martin Sheen]]), and the frequent political realities of a party not holding majorities in [[Congress]], despite holding the [[presidency]].  

'''''The West Wing''''' (1999 - 2006) was a TV show depicting the term of U.S. [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] President Josiah Bartlett (played by [[Martin Sheen]]), and the frequent political realities of a party not holding majorities in [[Congress]], despite holding the [[presidency]].  

Although sometimes accused of having a liberal slant, the show was widely praised by real-life members of both parties, and even benefitted from the involvement of important figures from them, such as [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] press secretary Dee Dee Myers and [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] press secretary [[Peggy Noonan]].

Although sometimes accused of having a liberal slant (it has been referred to as "The Left Wing" by critics), the show was widely praised by real-life members of both parties, and even benefitted from the involvement of important figures from them, such as [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] press secretary Dee Dee Myers and [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] press secretary [[Peggy Noonan]].

The election for Bartlet's successor which ended the show has drawn renewed attention for its similarity to the 2008 presidential election two years later. In both cases, the Democrats nominate a young Senator from a minority ethnic group (Matt Santos on the show, Barack Obama in real life) who picks a Washington insider as his running mate (Leo McGarry, Joe Biden). He runs against an old Republican senator portrayed as a "maverick" (Arnold Vinick, John McCain), who picks a conservative Christian as his running mate (Ray Sullivan, Sarah Palin).

The election for Bartlet's successor which ended the show has drawn renewed attention for its similarity to the 2008 presidential election two years later. In both cases, the Democrats nominate a young Senator from a minority ethnic group (Matt Santos on the show, Barack Obama in real life) who picks a Washington insider as his running mate (Leo McGarry, Joe Biden). He runs against an old Republican senator portrayed as a "maverick" (Arnold Vinick, John McCain), who picks a conservative Christian as his running mate (Ray Sullivan, Sarah Palin).