The Contender (2000 film)

The Contender is a 2000 political drama film written and directed by Rod Lurie. It stars Gary Oldman, Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges and Christian Slater. The film focuses on a fictional United States President played by Bridges and the events surrounding his appointment of a new Vice President Allen.

Secondterm Democratic U.S. President Jackson Evans Jeff Bridges must select a new vice president following the sudden death of the current VP. The obvious choice seems to be Virginia Governor Jack Hathaway William Petersen, who is hailed as a hero after he recently dove into a lake in a failed attempt to save a drowning girl. The president opts not to choose Hathaway, claiming that the administration cannot afford another Chappaquiddick.The President instead decides that his swan song will be helping to break the glass ceiling. He nominates Laine Hanson Joan Allen, a talented Democratic senator from Ohio. Standing in her way is Republican Congressman Shelley Runyon Gary Oldman of Illinois, who believes she is unqualified for the position, and backs Hathaway for the nod. His investigation in her background turns up an incident where she was apparently photographed participating in a drunken orgy as part of a sorority initiation. ........

Source: Wikipedia