In Washington, the lights in the Senate Office Buildings stayed on late into the night.
Inside his office, senior Senator Beck stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking at the distant lights of the White House. Behind him, the television silently broadcasted footage of Operation Epic Wrath.
His assistant spread a thick stack of documents across the desk: polls, donor lists, community statements, and media editorials.
"The whip count is tomorrow, and you haven't given the Whip an answer yet," the young assistant carefully broke the silence.
Beck didn't turn around, simply asking, "How are the polls looking in our state?"
"Fifty-two percent oppose continued military action against Iran, thirty-one percent support it, and the rest are undecided." The assistant flipped through the pages. "But within the Republican Party base, the support rate is reversed. Sixty percent favor taking a hardline approach, especially white evangelical voters."
Beck offered a bitter smile.
