Forging America: My Campaign Manager is Roosevelt-Chapter 68 - 54: Unique Value

Morganfield replied without expression, "Go on."

Leo began to succinctly lay out the core concept of the "Pittsburgh Inland Port Expansion Plan" from Ethan’s policy white paper.

"Mr. Morganfield, Pittsburgh sits on three prime waterways. This is our city’s greatest innate advantage."

"But over the past few decades, our port facilities have aged severely, our transport efficiency is low, and we have fallen behind our competitors in the Great Lakes Region."

"My plan is simple: through a large-scale modernization and upgrade, we will re-establish Pittsburgh as the most important inland logistics hub in the Ohio River Valley Region."

"We will dredge the river channels to accommodate larger cargo ships. We will fully upgrade all dock facilities and introduce the most advanced automated container handling systems. We will also build a dedicated freight rail line directly connecting to the port, achieving seamless integration between water and rail transport."

"Once this plan is complete, the logistics costs for all goods shipped from Pittsburgh to the world, and for all raw materials shipped from the world to Pittsburgh, will be drastically reduced."

A glint of shrewd interest flashed in Morganfield’s eyes, but his expression quickly returned to calm.

"A very good plan, Leo. In fact, Carter Wright painted a similar picture for me a few years ago."

"But in the end, that plan never moved beyond the blueprint stage, because making it a reality requires an astronomical amount of funding and a series of extremely complex political coordinations."

"That fool Carter Wright couldn’t get it done. What makes you think you can?"

This was the crucial question. If Leo couldn’t answer it, his promises would be nothing but empty words.

"Because I have three things that Mayor Carter Wright could never possess," Leo replied.

"First, I can get the money needed for this project from Washington."

"The biggest funding gap for this inland port expansion is securing the massive matching grant from the Federal Government’s recently passed National Infrastructure Investment Bill."

Leo looked at Morganfield and continued.

"Mr. Morganfield, your most important political ally in Washington is the Republican, Senator Warren."

"And this infrastructure bill is a core political agenda of the current Democratic administration. Your ally and his entire party have been the most staunch opponents of this bill from the very beginning."

"So, what about Mayor Carter Wright?" Leo asked, then answered his own question. "Although he’s a Democrat, he can’t get this money either."

"Why?" Morganfield asked.

"Because the National Infrastructure Investment Bill isn’t just a pot of money, Mr. Morganfield. It’s the product of a fierce struggle within the Democratic Party between the Progressives and the Establishment Faction."

"The real driving forces behind this bill are Progressives in Congress like Senator Daniel Sanders and Representative John Murphy. Therefore, the final approval authority for this money is held firmly in the hands of their own people."

"Mayor Carter Wright, on the other hand, belongs to the Democratic Party’s Establishment Faction. In the eyes of those Progressives, he’s an old-school bureaucrat who might compromise with the Republican Party at any moment for political gain."

"If they put this money, which carries significant political symbolism, into his hands, the Progressives would worry that it would ultimately flow into the pockets of businessmen like you through various municipal contracts, instead of actually being used to create the jobs they promised."

"That would become a major political scandal for them."

Leo looked at Morganfield and stated his final conclusion.

"But I am in a completely different situation. As you well know, I have the official endorsement of Senator Daniel Sanders himself."

"I’m not just an ordinary applicant for funds. I am the designated implementer of their Progressive ideals in a Rust Belt city like Pittsburgh. To me, this money isn’t a grant I have to beg for; it’s a crucial political investment they’re making to create a national showcase project."

"So, Mr. Morganfield, the conclusion is simple. In Pittsburgh today, the person capable of securing this money for the city is neither you nor Mayor Carter Wright."

"It’s only me."

"I am the only one who can bring the money that belongs to Pittsburgh back from Washington."

Morganfield tilted his chin up. "Continue."

Leo continued, "Second, I can handle the biggest potential obstacle to this project: the dockworkers’ Union."

"As you know, any project involving the renovation of automated equipment will inevitably trigger the Union’s concerns about job losses."

"If Carter Wright were to negotiate with them, the only result would be endless strikes and political wrangling. The entire project could be delayed for years, or even be scrapped entirely."

"But Frank Kovalsky is a member of my team," Leo emphasized. "I can sit down with the Union and work out a win-win solution that both enhances the port’s operational efficiency and fully guarantees retraining, reassignment, and future benefits for the existing workers."

"What I can bring you is what you, as a businessman, need most: stable change."

"And the final point," Leo concluded, "is that promoting this plan is the absolute core of my campaign platform. It will create thousands of high-paying jobs for Pittsburgh. If you agree, it will become the flagship project of my entire plan to revitalize Pittsburgh."

"My push for it is perfectly justified and will garner the broadest support from all of Pittsburgh’s citizens."

"But if Mayor Carter Wright tries to revive this plan that he abandoned years ago, everyone will just see it as a hasty attempt to curry favor before the election. It’s politically unfeasible."

Leo’s words gave Morganfield a new perspective on the young man before him.

What he had presented to Morganfield wasn’t just a simple political deal.

It was an investment project that only he, Leo Wallace, could realize—one that could bring enormous long-term benefits to the Morganfield Family.

The unique value he offered was something Mayor Carter Wright simply couldn’t match.

Leo stood up. He had said everything he needed to say.

He left the final decision to the city’s oligarch, who was now deep in thought.

"I’ve presented my proposal, Mr. Morganfield."

"Regardless of the choice you ultimately make, I will continue to fight for the future of Pittsburgh."

After speaking, Leo prepared to turn and leave.

Just as his hand was about to touch the doorknob, Morganfield’s voice sounded from behind him.

"Wait a moment, Leo."

Leo stopped in his tracks.

"Regarding that automated port handling system you mentioned... do you have a supplier in mind?"

"My subsidiary, Morganfield Technology Company, happens to have some very mature concepts and products in the field of automated logistics."

Leo paused, a faint smile touching his lips.

He knew he had won.