"I can see it. You've been helpful with the younger vampires, and aren't quite as bloodthirsty as the previous leader." Heh. He made a pun. "Considering where the recent blood bath free for all got us...well, Jean-Claude and you seem fairly similar in that, but if Cesare's message of circulating power stuck with anyone, I'm sure they'd rather vote for you than a guy who tries to claim that what was costing us was our 'cordiality and goodwill'."

Because only an idiot would think that cordiality and goodwill were what they were offering under Raymond, and it was under Raymond that they lost their power and protection. Also, he suspected a call for people to 'listen to their elders' certainly hadn't rung with the young vampire vote as much as Cooper had. Thomas had considered Jean-Claude a serious contender, but he supposed being able to choose a representative who wasn't already the leader for the first time did have it's appeal.