Doug was played by Steven Eckholdt. President Bartlet apparently did not like Doug, describing him at one point as a "pinhead". Abigail believed that he had tried to dissuade Doug from marrying Liz on the morning of their wedding. Doug joined the Bartlet family at the White House during the crisis of Zoey's kidnapping. Initially, Doug's campaign tried to distance itself from the Bartlet administration, with Doug stating that he wanted to win on his own merits. He later changed his position and asked for President Bartlet to join him at a campaign event.