Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer is assigned to protect presidential candidate David Palmer from a potential assassination attempt. Unfortunately, his daughter has disappeared and someone within CTU may be involved. Mandy seduces Martin Belkin, a photographer headed for a meeting with the Senator.

Jack rushes to the aid of CTU Director Richard Walsh who comes into possession of a keycard and ends up in a shootout. Gaines encounters trouble acquiring Martin Belkin's ID from Mandy. Elsewhere, Kim realises the gravity of her situation.

As Kim and Janet temporarily escape their captors, Senator Palmer learns that his son may have been involved in the death of his daughter's rapist 7 years ago. Gaines finally gets Belkin's ID from Mandy, while Jack delivers the keycard to CTU.

Jack delivers the briefcase to the assassin at Palmer's press conference. Palmer wants to let the press know what happened with Keith and the murder.

Jack is taken into custody by the Secret Service after he stops the assassination. He quickly escapes in order to check on another name from the key card. Palmer tries to deal with the assassination attempt.

Kevin Carroll (the man who pretended to be York) leads Jack to Gaines' compound where he is quickly discovered. Nina and Tony try work around Director's Green's strict new protocols to help Jack. Palmer discovers that Carl Webb, one of his financiers is handling the Keith situation his own way.

Jack has a final confrontation with Gaines as a CTU chopper heads to the compound. Nina and Tony talk to Jamey's mother in order to learn why she was helping the assassins. Carl Webb threatens Palmer to keep quiet about the murder once and for all. CTU learns that more assassins are on their way to LA.

After handing out photos of all the assassins, Jack and Mason discover that one of Palmer's campaign staff is in a romantic relationship with Alexis Drazen. Teri and Kim are attacked in the safehouse. Keith confronts Carl Webb about the cover-up.

Jack and Mason use Palmer's campaign staffer Elizabeth Nash in a sting against Alexis Drazen which backfires badly on them. Kim makes a run for Rick's house after getting separated from Teri following the attack.

Jack discovers a top secret detention center houses someone from his past. Tony takes Teri back to CTU as Kim finds herself in jail. Andre Drazen and his soldiers raid the detention center.

Jack is captured by Victor Drazen and Andre when they escape the detention center. Palmer learns he is dominating the California polls. Drazen's men capture Kim after she is released from jail.

Jack Bauer heads to the docks for a final climactic showdown with Victor Drazen.