Bobby Newport's campaign is not going well. His poll numbers are dropping, he fired his campaign manager, and he's out of the country. Leslie is now only behind by 15 points.
Leslie and Ben are hoping to get the endorsement of Ned Jones, the president of Pawnee Seniors United. Leslie presents to him her plan to build more ramps in Pawnee for disabled senior citizens. Ned is impressed with Leslie's plan but saves his endorsement decision until after his meeting with Jennifer Barkley, Bobby's new campaign manager.
Ron meets with Chris, who wants to hire a deputy director to take Leslie's place, as she'll have to split her time between the Parks Department and City Council, which will affect the department since Leslie does most of the work. Ron doesn't want to hire someone new as he believes it a waste of taxpayer money, so Chris challenges him to complete one project without Leslie, and if the team can do it, he won't hire a new deputy director.
When Leslie and Ben look Jennifer Barkley up, it turns out she's a big Washington DC hotshot who's run many successful campaigns. Leslie is worried, but Ben thinks it means Newport is running scared. They arrange to meet her at JJ's Diner.
Ron approaches Ann to recruit her for helping on the Parks Department's project. She suggests they find a way to upgrade the city water fountains. People in Pawnee tend to put their whole mouths on the water fountain spouts, and Ann is happy to be able to find a solution to this problem.
Leslie and Ben meet with Jen, who is very friendly to them. She compliments Ben on his campaign work and Leslie on her Parks work. She tells them that the Newports are paying her a "crazy amount" of money and admits that Bobby is an idiot and Leslie would be much better for the job. However, Ben and Leslie are shocked to see Jen on Perd Hapley's show where she says that Leslie is wrong for Pawnee. In addition, negative ads against Leslie are being run by the Newport campaign.
Ann recruits everyone in the Parks Department to help with the water fountain project. Jerry's idea of putting a cage guard around the spouts doesn't work; Tom suggests an expensive water bottle; April ignores the project in favor of reading her book. Donna suggests turning up the water pressure so people won't put their mouths so close. However, things spiral out of control when people get splashed and a water fight ensues.
Leslie announces her ramp plan to members of Pawnee Seniors United, but she is upstaged by Jennifer, who announces Bobby's plan for electronic lifts. Ned loves it and Bobby wins the endorsement, giving him a commanding lead in the polls.
As Chris and Ron head to the Parks offices, Chris tells Ron that he's interviewing several people for the deputy director job. Ron claims his team is finishing up their major project, but when they reach the office, they walk right into the water fight, with Andy splashing Chris in a water balloon kamikaze attack.
Leslie and Ben discuss what they should do next. They note that Newport is currently in Majorca. Ben suggests Leslie go on Perd's show.
The next day, April apologizes to Ron and tells him that Chris wants his help for the last phase of interviews.
Leslie is furious that Jennifer stole her idea, but Jennifer, with her charming and laid-back demeanor, insists it is nothing personal - she just wants to win. She likes Leslie, but her job is to beat her. Jen also correctly predicts what Ben and Leslie will do next and says it's a terrible idea. Jen reveals she has plans to counter Ben's next move and any other move that Leslie's campaign might make, intimidating them. Leslie asks Jen for advice; Jen suggests that Leslie needs a better idea.
April calls Ron and Chris back to the office, where the parks department reveals a new spoutless water fountain to Chris' approval. Chris agrees to hold off on hiring a deputy director as long as the team keeps up the good work.
At Perd's show, Ben scolds Leslie for consulting with Jen. Ben concedes that Jen is better at campaigning than he is. On the show, Leslie tries to follow her original plan, but Jen attacks her. Ben, watching, has an idea.
Ron thanks Ann for solving the water fountain problem and offers her a job in the parks department, but she admits it was April's idea and suggests April be Leslie's temporary replacement.
Ben gets Leslie to point out that Bobby Newport isn't even in Pawnee but is in Spain. Jen retorts that Bobby is in Spain trying to convince European businesses to open factories in Pawnee. Leslie and Ben have been soundly defeated.
Later, a depressed Ben and Leslie are drinking in a bar when Jen shows up. She praises them for their performance on Perd's show and admits that the European business claim was false.
Ron approaches April and asks her to take up Leslie's duties. She doesn't want to do it, but he convinces her to accept. They inform Chris, who's excited about the news.
Tropes
- The Ace: Bobby Newport's new campaign manager, Jennifer Barkley, is a highly intelligent and confident political muckety-muck in DC who's led several successful campaigns and reads international newspapers in her spare time.
- The Bad Guy Wins: Jennifer pretty soundly defeats Leslie and Ben at the end.
- Brilliant, but Lazy: April has shown plenty of times that she is actually rather smart, but would rather not bother with things like responsibility and hard work. She even nearly passes up the credit for coming up with the spoutless water fountains.April: I don't want to do things. I want to not do things.
- Double Entendre: From Donna.Chris: If your team keeps this up, I think we can hold off on filling the Leslie void.
Donna: I think Ben's already filling 'the Leslie void,' ohhh! (she and Ann high-five) - Friendly Enemy: Jennifer is completely correct in that Bobby is an idiot, but she still takes her job seriously. However, she also gives Leslie and Ben advice for their own campaign and even admits Leslie would be much better for the job than Bobby.
- Heartbreak and Ice Cream: After Jennifer wipes the floor with Leslie and Ben, Leslie intends to order a three-course meal with each course being a dessert.
- Morton's Fork: Ron considers Chris's ultimatum — either Ron has the department complete one public-works project without Leslie or hire a new deputy director to take up her slack — to be a choice between two personal nightmares. He points out that when he was a kid, he had a similar choice about which pet calf to kill and eat. (He chose both.)
- Nothing Personal: Jennifer dedicates herself fully to the Newport campaign but has nothing against Ben and Leslie, admitting that Leslie is a better fit for the job and even gives her some advice on how to win.
- Only in It for the Money: Jennifer is only working for the Newport campaign because they offered her a lot of money.
- Punch-Clock Villain: Jennifer Barkley, Bobby Newport's campaign manager, is genuinely friendly toward Leslie and Ben. Being a campaign manager is just her job, so she sees no reason why she can't share a social breakfast with her political opponents. This throws Leslie and Ben for a loop, who take the campaign much more personally and have difficulty separating Jennifer's ruthless political tactics with her off-the-clock behavior.Jennifer: I don't care about any of this; I'm just trying to win. Look, it's not personal—I like you! But my job is to beat you. So have a seat. I'll get you some of those waffles that you love.
Leslie: How do you know all th—
Jennifer: It's my job to know. - Spirited Competitor: Jennifer gives Leslie campaign advice a few times because, to use her chess metaphor, she doesn't have anyone to play against, so she has to play against herself.
- State The Simple Solution: April's solution to the unhygienic habit of the citizens of Pawnee putting their whole mouths over the water fountain's splash guards? Remove the splash guards. Not only does it prevent the citizens from continuing to pass germs in this way, but it is also the cheapest option available.
