Bob Russell (The West Wing)

Bob Russell (The West Wing)

Robert 'Bingo Bob' Russell is a fictional character played by Gary Cole on the television serial drama The West Wing.

After the resignation of Vice President John Hoynes due to a sex scandal in May 2003, the Bartlet Administration was forced to fill the office of Vice President. President Jed Bartlet's first choice was Lewis Berryhill, his Secretary of State, played by William Devane. However, Berryhill's nomination was opposed by House and Senate Republicans, along with more than a few Democrats, most notably the Senate Minority Leader. Instead, and with a great deal of reluctance, Bartlet appointed Bob Russell under the provisions of the 25th Amendment, after Congressional Republicans made it clear that they would not confirm a more viable candidate, who could conceivably be nominated to succeed Bartlet. Russell was on the list of names given by conservative Republican Speaker of the House Jeff Haffley, which also included a lesbian and several other politically unappealing individuals.

A Democratic Representative from Colorado at the time of his appointment, Russell was initially derided by some of the senior West Wing staff as mediocre, shallow and a tool of Colorado mining interests. Russell's dismissive nickname around Washington was "Bingo Bob," and he was often referred to as "the Congressman from the Western Colorado Mining Company." Russell served on the House Energy Committee with future Speaker Jeff Haffley.

However, once confirmed as Vice President, Russell soon established himself as an ambitious and shrewd politician with a wry awareness of his own shortcomings. Russell often used self-deprecating humor to try to get past his dullness, such as stating that "Bob Russell is so dull his Secret Service codename is Bob Russell"

In the political primary season, he vied with Hoynes and U.S. Representative Matt Santos of Texas for the Democratic presidential nomination during the 2006 election. After a strong early start as the presumptive Democratic nominee, Russell lost the crucial California Democratic primary, and several later primaries, to Santos. Russell offered Santos and then Pennsylvania Gov. Eric Baker the opportunity to be his running mate, but both declined. After several deadlocked ballots at the Democratic National Convention and a rousing speech from Santos, President Bartlet threw his support to Santos, as did a key teachers' union leader, which secured the nomination for Santos, with former White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry as his running mate.

Russell's chief of staff and later campaign manager was Will Bailey. Donna Moss also joined his campaign staff, eventually rising to become press secretary. Bailey later became White House Communications Director following the dismissal of Toby Ziegler for a national security violation, while Moss moved over to the Santos campaign.

Late in the presidential campaign, Santos became frustrated with Russell's apparent unwillingness to campaign for him. But Russell did eventually campaign for Santos in his own home state of Colorado, a state which was subsequently carried by Santos in the election. Russell offered to continue as Vice President to Santos, after Democratic vice presidential nominee Leo McGarry died on the night of the Presidential election, but Santos tactfully declined the offer. Bob Russell is last seen commenting to Will Bailey that McGarry's death had caused him to reflect on his own mortality.