Ron Smith was the first to break the silence.
He picked up the coffee cup in front of him, took a sip, and then set it down.
The porcelain cup hit the saucer with a sharp CLINK.
"Leo."
Smith's change in address signaled that he was about to broach some less pleasant topics.
"Your PowerPoint was well-made, and the logic was sound."
"If I were a businessman, I'd sign on the dotted line right now."
"But I'm not."
Smith leaned back in his chair, staring at Leo.
"I'm a Republican."
"And you, Leo Wallace, are currently the most famous Democratic Progressive lunatic in all of Pennsylvania."
"You kicked Carter Wright out of office, you're battling Morganfield, and now you want to send Murphy to the Senate to challenge Warren."
"In Harrisburg, on the Republican state committee's blacklist, your name is number one."
Smith pointed at himself.
"In Erie, I became Mayor because of the Republican base, because of the conservative, white, blue-collar workers."
