Set in Buckley, Washington, the story opens during the final days of the state gubernatorial race as candidate Al Donnelly makes a campaign stop in his hometown. Al's younger brother, Mike, a well-meaning underachiever, is hell-bent on doing his brother proud, but despite his best intentions, something always goes wrong. Donnelly's advisors decide that Mike needs a "handler" to keep an eye on him during the final days of the campaign. Enter Steve Dodds, a lowly aide on the campaign team, who is to keep Mike under wraps. Al's opponent, the incumbent Governor Evelyn Tracy, takes full advantage of Mike's gaffes to bolster her own campaign--even if it means setting Mike up on purpose. When Dodd's attempts to keep Mike under control fail, and Mike's escapades continue to make front page news, the pair is dispatched to a dilapidated cabin in the woods to sit out the final days before the election. While in the woods, the guys encounter any number of challenges--both natural and unnatural.