Fear and Loathing On the Campaign Trail '72

Thompson admits that he is “growing extremely weary of writing constantly about politics” (208). Five months remain until the election, when his assignment will finish. As the California primary on June 6 draws closer, the mainstream press presumes that McGovern will win in a landslide. Thompson complains about a bad tip he received from Mankiewicz. Before getting into detail, however, he describes an exhilarating test ride of a new motorcycle and explains how he got into politics after abandoning his dream of becoming ambassador to American Samoa. In the days leading up to the election, Humphrey’s increasingly desperate campaign launches “a bare-knuckle media blitz against McGovern” (217). Even though McGovern is the presumptive nominee, Thompson hears rumors of a fallout in his campaign, as a result of which campaign manager Gary Hart may quit. Thompson asks Mankiewicz about this rumor; Mankiewicz insists that he can say nothing and then warns against printing such a rumor because it may endanger a mole working for the McGovern campaign from within Humphrey’s organization. The slippery story about spies and campaign blitzes becomes increasingly confused, and, ultimately, nothing comes of it.

Thompson pursues the story, but the McGovern staff seem preoccupied by a “shrinkage crisis.