Campaign Trail Results: Game #1445720
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 2012
- Player Candidate: Mitt Romney
- Running Mate: Paul Ryan
- Difficulty Level: Normal
- Winner Take All Mode?: Yes
- Game Played:
View overall results, or a specific state:
| Candidate | Electoral Votes | Popular Votes | Pop. Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ---- Mitt Romney | 285 | 64,476,571 | 49.99 |
| ---- Barack Obama | 253 | 63,272,834 | 49.06 |
| ---- Gary Johnson | 0 | 902,831 | 0.70 |
| ---- Jill Stein | 0 | 316,870 | 0.25 |
Visits:
- Ohio:4
- Virginia:4
- Colorado:1
- Florida:1
- Iowa:1
- Pennsylvania:1
Answers:
- Some observers have argued that an embargo of Cuba makes little sense in a post Cold War environment. What do you think?I dislike Fidel Castro as much as anyone. We should keep the embargo but also look for other ways to democratize that country.
- 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?I don't want to comment on an issue that is best left to the voters of Arizona.
- Should the federal government continue to finance newer companies that attempt to develop alternative energy resources, such as solar power and electric car manufacturers?Obviously a couple of firms went bankrupt, but that happens sometimes with new companies. We shouldn't let that distract us from the overall idea of this project. Funding should remain as is.
- Do you have an opinion on net neutrality?Hmm... you know, I'll have to get back to you on that one.
- To what extent should offshore drilling be permitted in the Gulf of Mexico?We need this oil to put America on a path towards energy independence.
- 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.
- Do you support continued subsidies for the production of ethanol fuel?These subsidies were well-intentioned, but I think that solar and wind have more long-term potential.
- The United States has historically subsidized corn producers. With recent price increases in the corn market, do you still believe that such a program is necessary?The Department of Agriculture uses subsidies to rationally manage food production. It would be foolish to reverse that policy.
- We have now had 10 years to analyze the effects of the No Child Left Behind Act. Do you think it is time for a change?There is a danger of 'teaching to the test'. We do need some testing in place, but to do so on an annual basis is too frequent and interferes with good educational practice.
- What is your opinion on the 'gunwalking' tactics that led to the 'Fast and Furious' scandal?The tactic of 'gunwalking' led directly to the death of a Border Patrol agent. If we see people breaking the law, it makes no sense not to punish them. I would support the removal of Eric Holder as Attorney General.
- 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 is the wrong way to reform the American health care system. We should be focusing on malpractice reform and on cutting red tape for private insurers.
- Should American workers have the right to invest their Social Security withholdings in private accounts?If practical I would support a program that allows younger workers to invest a certain portion of their Social Security taxes into a different program.
- How much attack advertising will your campaign use?If our opponent does that kind of thing, then we will certainly follow suit.
- Should large banks like Chase, Citibank, and Bank of America be broken up to reduce the risk of another financial crisis?These banks would have never grown so large in the first place without colluding with the federal government. They only exist now because of a corrupt and possibly unconstitutional bailout.
- 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.
- What is the best way to make college more affordable for young people?Get the government out of higher education. Federal guarantees for student loans plus exorbitant funding for student grants combine to guarantee massive inflation in this area.
- Is your campaign planning to allow Ron Paul a high-profile speaking slot at the Republican Convention, in light of the number of delegates that he commands?You know, it couldn't hurt to give Mr. Paul a few minutes outside of prime time. Even if his views are a little on the fringe, he does have a very committed following. I'm willing to compromise on a couple of issues if that's what it takes to bring them in.
- In the past you have expressed varying opinions about abortion. Can you reassure the evangelical Christian movement that you are 100% pro-life in all circumstances?We have to be realistic. I am pro-life in most cases, but we also need exceptions for cases of rape and incest. I do agree, however, that taxpayers should never be forced to finance this practice.
- The rhetoric from some Republicans towards immigrants from Mexico has been quite harsh. Can you distance yourself from such comments?I take a level-headed approach to this issue. It's unfortunate that certain people have decided to use inflammatory rhetoric. Those statements don't represent my views at all.
- What will be the overriding theme of your nomination speech at the Republican Convention?I will emphasize the point that the Republican Party has a big tent. We are the party for anyone who tries to work hard and get ahead in America.
- What is your guiding foreign policy philosophy?Pragmatism -- Our foreign policy right now is effective. We need to guide foreign nations towards democracy and open markets. Doing so will increase the world's prosperity and decrease the chance of future wars.
- In the most general terms, what will be your overall campaign strategy against Obama?My surrogates have plenty of points to make about the failure of the Obama Administration. As the nominee, I will take the high road and stick to a message of optimism and American renewal.
