In case you're wonder who would have won the election, the head writer said it would have been Gatling but that was only the beginning. You can read about it on this page.
http://tvseriesfinale.com/shows/benson/
I love that behind the scenes stuff!
However, not to discredit (at all) anything said by someone who was directly involved with the show, but I VERY CLOSELY followed Benson's ratings during the 7th and final season and, while it did "OK" in their first few weeks up against Dallas and co., those ratings fell off QUICKLY and it's the reason ABC eventually pulled it from the Friday schedule and then eventually stuck it AFTER The Red Foxx Show on Saturday nights, where the ratings then REALLY took a nosedive.
It's true costs were a concern on the show, and I've been told directly by another cast member that it is the reason Pete and Denise left the show in the 6th season (salaries, etc.).
But I remember the ratings (overall, at the end of the 7th season when everything was added up, etc.) being TERRIBLE - near the bottom of the ratings compared to everything else on TV at the time.
R.G. himself came out and said (BEFORE the final season aired) how angry he was at being put up against Dallas in the 7th season, and I don't blame him, seeing as HE was the only member of the entire ABC network to win an acting Emmy that year (his first as 'Lead Actor' by the way - for Season 6 of Benson). His direct quote: "Maybe we'll go one more year after this." They didn't. :(
Sorry for sounding like a 'Benson-freak', but I am (lol) and do remember all of this stuff when it first happened. All that said, it's still great to hear directly from someone who worked on the show and what "might have been" in Season 8. For fans of the show, it doesn't get much more cool than that!
------
Wait a minute... who am I here?
Yeah, I loved everything Bob had to say but the ratings stuff came across as an embellishment of sorts on his part. I do also believe Benson suffered vs. Dallas. How high were Dallas' ratings that year (1985-1986)? I do believe that show was a juggernaut but I don't recall which years it fared the best.
Glad to hear Gatling would have won. I was cheering for Gene all the way! ;)