Campaign Trail Results: Game #1148305
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 1988
- Player Candidate: Michael Dukakis
- Running Mate: Lloyd Bentsen
- Difficulty Level: Impossible
- Winner Take All Mode?: Yes
- Game Played:
View overall results, or a specific state:
| Candidate | Electoral Votes | Popular Votes | Pop. Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ---- George Bush | 535 | 53,136,886 | 57.77 |
| ---- Michael Dukakis | 3 | 37,586,840 | 40.87 |
| ---- Lenora Fulani/Other | 0 | 765,046 | 0.83 |
| ---- Ron Paul | 0 | 487,863 | 0.53 |
Visits:
- Wisconsin:4
- West Virginia:2
- California:1
- Iowa:1
- Minnesota:1
- New Mexico:1
- Pennsylvania:1
- Texas:1
Answers:
- What message will you most emphasize as you accept the Democratic Party nomination?I will take the attack to George Bush, who has all of the weaknesses of Ronald Reagan, with none of the strengths. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth.
- To what extent will you make your performance as Governor of Massachusetts a centerpiece of your campaign?It's probably a little better to take the attack to George Bush. We will obviously give Massachusetts some mention, but it is not the main focus.
- How do you plan to attack the candidacy of George Bush, if at all?We prefer to run a positive campaign, focusing on our own policies and beliefs.
- Is it true that you are a “card-carrying” member of the American Civil Liberties Union?I'm proud to be a member of the American Civil Liberties Union.
- In 1977, you vetoed a law requiring teachers to begin the school day with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. What were you thinking?This is an attempt by Republicans to deflect attention from the unpopularity of their own candidate, Mr. Bush, and his elitist background and policies.
- How will you address the Iran-Contra scandal as you campaign for President?We prefer to focus on issues of policy and economics in this election, and not on political scandals.
- Do you believe that there should be federal funding for abortions?I support any federal effort to increase the health and well-being of women in America.
- The Bush campaign is attacking the Massachusetts prison furlough program, which included furloughs for convicted murderers. One such person, Willie Horton, killed again in Maryland. What is your response?The focus of this campaign needs to be our competence, and the scandals and extreme policy of the Reagan Administration. I trust that voters will see through this attempt to deflect attention from the real issues.
- The Bush campaign is attacking your opposition to the invasion of Grenada, and bombing of Libya. What is your response?We need to counterattack Reagan and Bush for the pointless increases in defense spending, which have destroyed the federal budget this decade.
- The Bush campaign has repeatedly called you a “liberal” or “the liberal Governor”, and so on. Do you embrace the label of “liberal”?It doesn't matter what the “label” is that we use. The important thing is the issues we will decide upon.
- The Bush campaign is highlighting the pollution in Boston Harbor to counter your claims of a Massachusetts Miracle. How will you respond?We will point out that the Reagan EPA is chiefly at fault for the lack of funds and action in that case, and we'll attack Bush's dishonesty.
- Television advertising is coming to dominate the political campaign season. Where should the greatest emphasis be placed in your ads?Let's attack George Bush as a creature of his political handlers, who lacks any deep-seated convictions or a record of governing competence.
- To what extent will you campaign focus on your background as the child of Greek immigrants, and your rise through American society?I want to run a series of compare-and-contrast advertisements, comparing my own humble background with that of George Bush.
- To what extent will you remind voters that you served in the United States Army?I served honorably in the U.S. Army, but Bush was basically a war hero. We should focus on areas where we have more of an advantage.
- What is your opinion on the selection of Dan Quayle as George Bush's running mate?We don't plan to focus on Dan Quayle much in this campaign.
- What do you have to say about the selection of Lloyd Bentsen as your running mate?Lloyd Bentsen has been involved in the government of this country since 1948. He is eminently qualified to advise our Administration from the first day.
- Your running mate, Lloyd Bentsen, is widely believed to have defeated Dan Quayle in the Vice Presidential debate. Will you come back to this moment in your TV ads or speeches?We can't focus too much on the second-banana. Voters want to know why I'm better than Bush.
- What is your position on capital punishment?I believe that capital punishment is ineffective at reducing crime, and is not applied in an equal manner. I do not support the practice.
- Are you willing to rule out any further increases to the federal income tax, if elected President?Read my lips. There will be no new taxes under my Administration.
- Are protectionist measures of some kind needed to counteract the dominance of Japan in foreign trade?We have taken too many steps to expand world trade without adequately protecting American workers from the consequences. I would definitely run a more protectionist Administration.
- Do you support additional gun control measures at the federal level?This is getting it completely backwards. American families have every right to defend themselves from America's crime epidemic.
- What measures should be taken to assist states, such as Texas, which have been hurt by the recent crash in oil prices?We need to form a comprehensive energy strategy and re-implement price supports for domestic oil production.
- Could more have been done to prevent the current farm crisis, which has devastated the upper Midwest?Unfortunately, the economics of farming cannot support the number of farmers who were borrowing money in the early 1980s.
- Where will you spend your final day of the campaign?New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
- Will you continue the tradition of debating your opponent in the month before the election?I'd prefer to avoid that kind of thing if we can.