He is found by his brother, a Jewish policeman, and confronts the nation before the 2008 elections, setting off Kristallnacht-like riots throughout the country.

Having served on an elite unit called RAM in the Marine Corps, eventually with the rank of Marine Gunner, O'Connell is known for his honesty and high moral principles – a trait which goes a long way to help him in his election campaign.

Thornton "T3" Tomtree is a technological genius who invents an apparently unhackable computer named "The Bulldog".

While good with technology, he is portrayed as an insincere politician, who is mainly in it for power and influence.

His political career is led by a childhood friend, Darnell Jefferson, in the novel the first African-American billionaire.