Campaign Trail Results: Game #1380373
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 1844
- Player Candidate: James K. Polk
- Running Mate: George Dallas
- Difficulty Level: Normal
- Winner Take All Mode?: Yes
- Game Played:
lookattheflowers414
View overall results, or a specific state:
| Candidate | Electoral Votes | Popular Votes | Pop. Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ---- Henry Clay | 169 | 1,330,447 | 49.22 |
| ---- James K. Polk | 106 | 1,312,704 | 48.56 |
| ---- James Birney | 0 | 59,983 | 2.22 |
| ---- John Tyler | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Answers:
- What points will emphasize in your acceptance letter, as you accept the Democratic nomination for President?I will express my support for the annexation of Texas, and a favorable resolution to the Oregon situation. On other issues, we will continue Van Buren's efforts to establish an Independent Treasury, and will move to reduce tariffs.
- You are known as a supporter of annexation on the Texas front. Do you have anything you would like to add, now that you have been nominated?We must annex Texas as soon as practicable.
- John Tyler is pleased with your position on the Texas issue, and is prepared to withdraw his candidacy. Can you give him assurances that certain appointees of his will be safe in their positions, should you be elected?Getting Tyler out of the race is worth it. He can send us a reasonable list of people who will stay on when we're elected.
- Cassius Clay, a cousin of Henry Clay, has published a letter stating Henry Clay is in accord with the abolitionist movement. Should your party disseminate copies of this letter as an attack?Let's not appear too hasty here. We need to run as a national party and avoid alienating Northerners.
- Do you believe that any Southern Whig can call themselves a supporter of slavery, so long as Henry Clay equivocates on the Texas issue?Mr. Clay has certainly shown unusual reticence on the Texas issue, but many Southern Whigs are perfectly fine people.
- Do you have any statement on the presence of Theodore Frelinghuysen on the Whig ticket, and his association with known anti-Catholic agitators?The Democratic Party is a friend of the working-class, and of immigrants from abroad. We denounce the vile bigotry of the Whig Party, as evidenced by Frelinghuysen.
- For better or worse, many view you as a protege of Andrew Jackson (some call you “Young Hickory”). Is it better to embrace this label, or to distance yourself from it?I am a personal friend of Andrew Jackson, and have repeatedly taken advice from him throughout my political career. I'm proud of this and I believe it to be an asset in this campaign.
- Henry Clay supports the idea that the federal government should purchase the telegraph patent and manage the technology. To what extent should you attack him on this?We don't need to hammer on the internal improvements issue. We have other things to talk about which will better unite the party.
- Should your party attack Henry Clay's personal conduct? His gambling, womanizing, dueling, and generally irreligious nature?The passions of these times seem to be towards someone who is more righteous in their behavior. We should attack Clay's conduct, and especially in the Northeast.
- Silas Wright, the protege and successor to Van Buren, has been mentioned as a candidate for Governor of New York. He seems hesitant. Will you write him a letter imploring him to enter the race?This is an issue of state politics that I will stay removed from.
- Do you believe that some revenue should be set aside from our tariffs to finance internal improvements, such as canals and roads?Only a very limited amount, for the most compelling projects. Otherwise the tariff should be for revenue purposes only.
- There have recently been riots and armed clashes between nativists and Irish immigrants in Philadelphia and elsewhere. Do you have any plans to condemn the nativist violence in these episodes?The Whig Party attempts to stand apart from these nativist mobs, yet their own candidate for Vice President has associated with virulent anti-Catholics.
- What do you make of Martin Van Buren's 1842 visit to Henry Clay's estate? Is Clay too friendly with Northern interests?This incident was a source of insinuation against Van Buren during the nomination battle. In the main election, however, we shouldn't mention anything that could cause a rift in the party.
- Would you support the annexation of Texas, even without an agreement with Mexico, and a possible war?The prospect of war with a backwards country such as Mexico should play no part in our calculations.
- What should your party's position be on the Tariff of 1842, which increased tariffs?The primary purpose of our tariffs should be revenue. But should a small amount of protection incidentally occur from our tariff policy, that is acceptable.
- What is your current position on the banking system?I stand for a national bank or an independent Treasury -- whichever can gain the most support. I would require any national bank to maintain a branch in every state.
- Do you support an Amendment that would limit the President to a single term in office?I don't support an Amendment on this issue, but I will personally promise not to run for reelection.
- Aside from the issue of Texas, do you support the expansion of the United States in general? Into Oregon, other parts of Mexico, Cuba, etc.?I believe that the United States, in line with the “Manifest Destiny” ideal, should expand wherever feasible.
- Do you have any statement to make on John Calhoun's “Packenham Letter”, stating slavery to be a positive blessing, and justifying the annexation of Texas as a pro-slavery move?We will frame Texas as an issue of national pride and national expansion. I rebuke the idea of Calhoun that this is purely a Southern enterprise.
- Do you support any changes to our current naturalization laws?I support our current naturalization laws as they stand.
- Do you support any effort to establish a unified, national currency?Only if we could establish one without chartering a new national bank.
- Do you agree with Robert Walker's letter, arguing that that slavery issue will be diluted by national expansion?We won't address Mr. Walker's letter directly, but we are in favor of annexation.
- After the unfortunate death of Abel Upshur in the Princeton explosion, John Calhoun succeeded him as Secretary of State. Was this a wise appointment by President Tyler?We don't have any plans to comment upon the Cabinet appointments of President Tyler.
- Regardless of your personal feelings, would you sign an act which established an independent Treasury for the government's funds?I support our current banking system, and would not support any ill-conceived attempts to centralize our finances.
- Is there a particular state where your party should concentrate its resources and most talented speakers as the election draws near?New York