The sleepy Maine community of Mooseport has all the accoutrements of idyllic small town life: a little park and a gazebo, quaint architecture, a moose that wanders through the streets and lots of friendly townsfolk, including the proprietor of the local hardware store, Handy Harrison (
Ray Romano) and his veterinarian girlfriend Sally (
Maura Tierney). Mooseport also just happens to be the vacation home of Monroe "Eagle" Cole, the President of the United States (
Gene Hackman).
Following two successful terms, the wildly popular President is ready to retire, publish his memoirs and embark on a series of lucrative speaking engagements. But Eagle's retirement is delayed when the folks of Mooseport convince the former President to run for Mayor. At the same time, he sparks to Sally -- unaware that she is Handy's girlfriend. And Sally, frustrated by Handy's inattentiveness, doesn't resist Eagle's flirtations. When a jealous Handy announces HIS candidacy for mayor, Eagle is dumbfounded. "I'm running for mayor against the man who's installing my toilets!" he rails. As the campaign kicks into high gear, things get even wilder in this once quiet town.