"Paving the way for Hillary."
I think that is exactly what they are doing. They want to get the public thinking about a female president and show how wonderful she could be. I would bet a coca-cola that within the first two episodes, we see Madam President blow something up to show how tough she can be; and deal with a husband that was once unfaithful or at least a problem.
I think this Rob Lurie is the same guy who wrote and directed that piece of crap leftwing propoganda movie, "The Contender" a few years ago.
If you have any doubts as to the tone and politics that this show will have, then look to that garbage. The main Republican is a mean, vicious, unnattractive, pro-life man (with a pro-choice wife who had an abortion unbeknownst to him of course, which is revealed as she betrays him politically to the movie's protagonist). The liberal heroes are wise, attractive, and full of pretentious self-righteousness.
Really it could be mistaken for an Aaron Sorkin project, especially considering the nauseating an vomit-inducing triumph of the liberal good guys and gals in the end with a speech that sounds like it was written by Ted Kennedy, just like the end of Sorkin's "American President", another piece of s**t movie.
So expect this and more from this sure-to-suck tv show. Davis' character will probably be more of a man than any President in history. Teddy Roosevelt and Andrew Jackson will look like pussies compared to her.
And yes, you are all right on the money in that one motive for this is almost certainly to serve as an unpaid advertisement for Hillary's campaign. Being somewhat of a pessimist, I fear that some demographics may be influenced by this and look more favorably towards Hillary as a result.
And there will never be a conservative equivalent on network or cable television. Fox may be under Rupert Murdoch, but he has liberals running the studio. And really, would we even want a conservative version? If there were one, then I guarantee it would take one of two forms; (1) The president is a true conservative, and therefore is the show's villain. It would be like having JR Ewing as President. (2) He would be a likeable character, but only because he'd be the type of 'conservative' who supports gay marriage, abortion on demand, amnesty for illegal aliens, higher taxes, racial preferences, coddling of terrorists, gun control, .....