After the unexpected death of the vice president of the USA, Senator Laine Hanson is nominated by the president to take his place, but her path to this position is about to be seriously hampered by a powerful enemy, Senator Sheldon Runyon, who will go to any lengths to prevent such a left of centre politician becoming the second most powerful person in the country . As the accusations fly and the skeletons in the closet are aired Hanson's chances are looking slimmer and slimmer. The Contender is a cracking drama, thrilling rather than a thriller, a sophisticated plot is handsomely supported by some fine acting. There's some slightly cheesy liberal dogma but this is small critiscism of an otherwise classy film.