Matt Santos
PER
Matt Santos Santos
The Democratic nominee, played by Jimmy Smits, who was the victor -- had nothing to do with any shift in opinion among voters. Instead, Lawrence O'Donnell, an executive producer of the show, said he and his fellow writers had declared Santos the winner only after the death, in mid-December, of John Spencer, who portrayed Santos's running mate, Leo McGarry. Other than a coming episode that will linger at the funeral for Mr. Spencer's character -- and include, as mourners, a parade of former cast members, including Rob Lowe -- the show's final episodes will be devoted to the transition from the Bartlet administration to that of President-elect Santos.