Campaign Trail Results: Game #1446770
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 1988
- Player Candidate: Michael Dukakis
- Running Mate: Lloyd Bentsen
- Difficulty Level: Hard
- Winner Take All Mode?: Yes
- Game Played:
View overall results, or a specific state:
| Candidate | Electoral Votes | Popular Votes | Pop. Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ---- George Bush | 521 | 53,349,689 | 58.43 |
| ---- Michael Dukakis | 17 | 36,800,309 | 40.30 |
| ---- Lenora Fulani/Other | 0 | 672,871 | 0.74 |
| ---- Ron Paul | 0 | 487,999 | 0.53 |
Visits:
- Virginia:2
- Arizona:1
- California:1
- Minnesota:1
- Nevada:1
- New York:1
- Oregon:1
- South Dakota:1
- Tennessee:1
- Texas:1
- West Virginia:1
Answers:
- Are you willing to rule out any further increases to the federal income tax, if elected President?My opponent will raise taxes, and so will I. He won't tell you. I just did.
- What message will you most emphasize as you accept the Democratic Party nomination?As Governor of Massachusetts, I have led a capable, liberal administration of that state. I will take this to the national level and undo eight years of failure under Ronald Reagan.
- To what extent will you make your performance as Governor of Massachusetts a centerpiece of your campaign?We will strike a balance between emphasizing my own experience, along with making some attacks on George Bush.
- How do you plan to attack the candidacy of George Bush, if at all?We believe in a liberalism that benefits all Americans. Bush subscribes to Reagan's divisive, winner-take-all economic policies which have made the middle-class poorer.
- Is it true that you are a “card-carrying” member of the American Civil Liberties Union?At one time I was a member of the ACLU, but I've been as concerned as any good American by some of the cases that organization has taken on in the past few years.
- 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?I have nothing to hide. I'm proud to protect the freedom of conscience that every American should enjoy.
- 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?This is definitely taking things too far. The Roe v. Wade case is settled law, but federal funding for the practice is an entirely different matter.
- 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?Massachusetts has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation. We need to turn the tables and attack Bush and Reagan relentlessly on the national crime rate.
- 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?I think it would make a good TV ad if we went to Texas and spoke with some of the people who have been put out of work by the oil crash there. Let's ask them how they feel about the Reagan economy.
- 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?We would do better to focus on political views and attacks, rather than reemphasize my own heritage.
- 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?We need to do anything necessary to reduce the staggering rate of murder and violent crime in this country.
- Are protectionist measures of some kind needed to counteract the dominance of Japan in foreign trade?Our first resort should be to negotiate with Japan and take steps to enhance the competitiveness of American industry. But I wouldn't take anything off the table.
- Do you support additional gun control measures at the federal level?I believe that we need to consider any measure to reduce our nation's crime epidemic, including new gun control legislation.
- Do you support the Strategic Defense Initiative, a.k.a. “Star Wars”, designed to produce missile-defense weapons?We should be making every effort we can with this program, but if the Soviet Union were to offer sufficient concessions, it should certainly be a bargaining chip.
- What measures should be taken to assist states, such as Texas, which have been hurt by the recent crash in oil prices?I believe that American companies should every right to bid on foreign oil contracts with our allies.
- 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?California.
- Will you continue the tradition of debating your opponent in the month before the election?Let's do it.