Editing Interface (novel) (section)

==Story==
[[Illinois]] governor William Cozzano suffers a [[stroke]]. Meanwhile, in a separate subplot, [[African-American]] Eleanor Richmond, unemployed and living in a trailer park, discovers that her husband has committed suicide in their repossessed former home. An underground business coalition called the Network arranges for Cozzano to have a biochip implanted and for him to run for [[President of the United States]]. The Network is made up of a number of large fictional companies, with parallels in real business entities. The chip is connected to public opinion polls, allowing them to change what Cozzano says or does based on what the public wants.

Richmond, after verbally humiliating a local racist [[CATV|cable TV]] [[Public-access television]] talk show personality who was running for Senate, has since found herself working in the offices of a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Colorado]] senator. After an event where she accused the citizens of Colorado of being [[welfare queen]]s, she finds herself in the public eye as a candidate for Cozzano's running mate.

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The Network's ability to perceive public opinion, skewed on the night of the vice presidential debate by a twist of fate, makes them select Richmond as vice presidential candidate. Their canny act of [[public relations]] work enables Cozzano to save his Presidential campaign. President-elect Cozzano is shot at his inauguration by a psychotic former factory worker who has learned of almost the entirety of the Network's plans. He dies almost instantly. Richmond becomes the first black and the first female President of the United States.