Campaign Trail Results: Game #1151237
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 2012
- Player Candidate: Mitt Romney
- Running Mate: Rob Portman
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Winner Take All Mode?: Yes
- Game Played:
View overall results, or a specific state:
| Candidate | Electoral Votes | Popular Votes | Pop. Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ---- Barack Obama | 285 | 65,402,080 | 50.21 |
| ---- Mitt Romney | 253 | 63,563,137 | 48.80 |
| ---- Gary Johnson | 0 | 960,580 | 0.74 |
| ---- Jill Stein | 0 | 332,477 | 0.26 |
Visits:
- Pennsylvania:4
- Michigan:3
- Florida:2
- Minnesota:2
- Ohio:1
Answers:
- Some involved with the space program have suggested sending astronauts to Mars, or even forming moon colonies. What is your take?I think that's a question for the free market to decide. I don't think it's appropriate for NASA or somebody to launch an expensive program just for the sake of it.
- A recent Supreme Court decision affirmed an Arizona law allowing officers to check suspected illegal immigrants for proof of immigration status. Do you think this law is a good idea?The proper authority for enforcement rests with the federal government. This law goes further than federal laws and even if constitutional, should be repealed.
- How do you view the practice of hydraulic fracturing (aka 'fracking') in the Dakotas and elsewhere?This is a generational shift in the world energy game in the favor of the United States. There are plenty of regulations in place to protect our drinking water, and we simply cannot afford to miss out on the benefits of shale oil.
- What is your position on gay marriage?I'm opposed this personally. I think that, you know, different states have different opinions on this matter and it's best left to them to decide on the issue.
- Is the United States too reliant on fossil fuels for its energy needs?Fossil fuels and coal are the backbone of our energy supply. If we got rid of those, what would we have left? We have to be realistic and realize that our options are limited.
- Do you support allowing the Bush Tax Cuts to expire for high-income households at the end of 2012?Perhaps we can consider letting these expire at some point in the future, but for now we are mired in a stagnant economy and need to avoid tax increases.
- Overall, are you satisfied with the trade relationship between the U.S. and China?The U.S.-China relationship has destroyed middle class jobs for close to three decades. We need drastic changes including more protection for American manufacturing.
- Will you launch an air campaign against Iranian nuclear sites if diplomatic negotiations continue to yield minimal results?This is a regime that has publicly stated its desire to 'wipe Israel off the map'. It would be suicidal to watch them develop a nuclear weapon without making some attempt to strike back.
- What do you think we should do next in regards to Social Security?The Social Security program has unfunded liabilities of over $100 trillion. It's time for us to admit that the Social Security program is bankrupt before it drags the rest of the federal government down with it.
- What is your opinion on directing some Department of Education funding towards a school voucher program?In limited cases, such as those currently in place, there is a role for vouchers. But improving public education should be our primary focus.
- Should middle school students learn about contraception in health class, or will this simply encourage them to experiment?I support abstinence-only education, and believe that federal funding should be tied to adherence with this policy.
- The Affordable Care Act (i.e. 'Obamacare') will cap annual premiums, require minimum coverage levels, and outlaw discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions. What do you think?This program will be a disaster. Not only is it an unconstitutional violation of personal freedom, but it will lead to a decline in American health care and will prove to be financially impossible to maintain without socializing the health care system.
- Do you think the Death with Dignity Act in Oregon could be a model for broader federal legislation on the issue?That's ridiculous. Of course not.
- Should taxpayers be forced to subsidize Planned Parenthood via federal subsidies?I will end federal funding for Planned Parenthood on Day 1 of my Administration.
- Are you satisfied with the provisions within the 2012 Federal Highway Bill that could salvage over two million jobs in the construction industry?Maybe we had our disagreements over the exact size and nature of this spending, but nobody seriously thinks that we should stop funding our highways.
- Should federal fuel taxes be slightly increased (they have been the same since 1993) to avoid another catastrophe like the Minnesota bridge collapse of 2007?There are better ways of funding our federal highway projects than with another increase to the gas tax, especially given how much prices have risen in the past few years.
- Federal funding for Community Health Centers has more than doubled in the past ten years to over $2 billion annually. Is this an example of out of control government spending?Some money for these programs is fine. This particular one is definitely too large and should not continue to increase in size while the rest of our economy is struggling.
- The most recent data (for 2010) on Pell Grants indicate that 60% of all college students receive one. In that same year, the program cost $36 billion. What changes, if any, would you recommend to this program?Pell Grants and government aid serve to inflate the cost of college by a commensurate amount. This program does not benefit students in any way and serves as a boondoggle for administrators.
- The most recent poll showed you slipping by a couple of percentage points. Are you planning on making any changes in your campaign to address this?We don't pay attention to things like polls and focus groups. We just go out every day and present our message to the American people. Everything else will take care of itself.
- Recent reports have highlighted the large amount of money that you and your wife spend on racing horses. Have you ever bet more than $10,000 on a horse race?Absolutely not. I wouldn't think of making a bet this large.
- How does your insurance plan in Massachusetts differ from Obamacare?My plan was a good plan for Massachusetts. Obamacare is bad because it forces an individual mandate on the American public.
- What will be the overriding theme of your nomination speech at the Republican Convention?My message will be a message of hope. After four years of economic blight the American people need to feel good about themselves, and they need to know that their efforts will be rewarded with material prosperity.
- What is your guiding foreign policy philosophy?Human Rights -- It's past time that we cut allegiances with dictators like the House of Saud and truly lived up to our ideals. I will only support or give aid to democratically elected leaders.
- It has now been four years since the financial crisis plunged this country into a steep recession. Do you attribute current economic conditions more to Obama or to Bush?Barack Obama has presided over the highest unemployment rate and largest deficit increases in nearly a century. His management style has clearly been a total failure.
- In the most general terms, what will be your overall campaign strategy against Obama?I will emphasize the conservatism of my views and my governing philosophy. I will remind the American people that I am strong on defense and that I'm pro-life, pro-free market, pro-business, and deeply religious.