John Wells, executive producer of The West Wing, has insisted that even he has "no idea" about whether a Republican or a Democrat will be the next President on the show.

It is currently expected that either Alan Alda, who plays Republican Senator Arnold Vinick, or Jimmy Smits - Democrat Representative Matt Santos, will be elected.

Wells claims that real-life politics will have no effect on the final decision, instead the character that is "most compelling" to the audience will be chosen.

He told Reuters, "We actually watch what's happening between the cast members, the issues that are being presented - and try and follow what makes the most story sense, what's giving you the greatest amount of drama.

"We're hoping that by the time we get into the fall, that there will be a real question in the viewer's mind as to who would make the better president. They both have their strengths and weaknesses."