Campaign Trail Results: Game #1551182
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 1844
- Player Candidate: Henry Clay
- Running Mate: Theodore Frelinghuysen
- Difficulty Level: Normal
- Winner Take All Mode?: Yes
- Game Played:
View overall results, or a specific state:
| Candidate | Electoral Votes | Popular Votes | Pop. Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ---- James K. Polk | 216 | 1,410,330 | 51.72 |
| ---- Henry Clay | 59 | 1,248,879 | 45.80 |
| ---- James Birney | 0 | 67,489 | 2.48 |
| ---- John Tyler | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Answers:
- Martin Van Buren, Democrat and President until 1841, will be making a tour of the country to visit various friends and political figures. Will you extend the invitation for him to stay at your estate for a few days?This would be a strictly personal invite. We are friends. And besides, it might blunt some opposition to my candidacy from New York.
- What points will emphasize in your acceptance letter, as you accept the Whig nomination for President?I will strike a middle ground on the Texas question, supporting annexation so long as it doesn't lead to war with Mexico, or to significant opposition from any section of the country.
- What position will you take on the Texas annexation issue?This discussion has grown tiresome, but I will continue to advocate for a moderate solution on this issue.
- The background of your running mate, Theodore Frelinghuysen, has caused much distress among the Catholics of this country? Will you make any statements on this issue?We need to address these concerns and state categorically that the Whigs support our current naturalization laws and do not stand for nativism.
- 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 Irish violence in these episodes?After a few days have passed and tempers have cooled, let us reemphasize our support for current naturalization laws.
- Cassius Clay, your cousin, has published a letter stating you are in accord with the abolitionist movement. How will you respond to this?We must attack Cassius Clay's statements at once, for the dishonest falsehoods that they are. I am in no way an abolitionist in this debate.
- There are a number of attacks which focus on your fondness for horse-racing, drinking, gambling, female conversation, and the like. Do you have a response to this?I've undertaken the amusements of our times, perhaps a little more than most, but it has never had any bearing on the work I have done.
- Do you plan to make any attacks against the Liberty Party, a radical abolitionist group that is fielding a third party candidate?Any attacks we make will only publicize this group more. Let's stick to our own campaign in this case.
- Do you still support the idea that the federal government should purchase the telegraph patent and manage the technology?Let's not make any divisive statements on this issue. The public is hardly clamoring for my opinion in any case.
- Was there really a bargain (a “Corrupt Bargain” to many) between yourself and John Quincy Adams which elevated him to the Presidency in 1825?I don't know how many times a man can deny an unjust allegation before fatigue sets in.
- Does it make sense to attack Northern Democrats as enablers and fellow travelers of the Southern slavery expansion?We should attack the Northern Democrats on their opposition to, or flip-flopping on, the issues of tariffs and internal improvements. They are on soft ground in that debate.
- Is there something you can do to give the Southern Whigs political cover from the incessant attacks that they are in league with an anti-slavery party?I am opposed to radicalism from any region, and that includes anti-slavery radicalism. The Whig Party is a national party with a national program that will benefit all regions equally.
- 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.
- Do you believe that some revenue should be set aside from our tariffs to finance internal improvements, such as canals and roads?This is one of the key objectives of our current tariff policy, and I would support a strong infrastructure program as President.
- What is your current position on the banking system?I stand for a national bank, broadly similar to the late Second Bank of the United States.
- Do you support an Amendment that would limit the President to a single term in office?I don't think that this is a necessary step, at this time.
- Do you support the lifting of the Gag Rule in Congress?We have no plans to address the Gag Rule during our campaign.
- Would you sign a law that lowered tariffs below the level needed to protect American industry from foreign imports?Regardless of my personal feelings, it is not the place of the President to override the will of Congress, unless the law in question is unconstitutional.
- 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?I support a national bank, and one clear argument for the bank is the total chaos we've had with our currency since 1837.
- Do you agree with Robert Walker's letter, arguing that that slavery issue will be diluted by national expansion?I believe this letter to be disingenuous at best. Further expansion will reopen the debate on slavery rather than suppress it.
- Regardless of your personal feelings, would you sign an act which established an independent Treasury for the government's funds?I would prefer a national bank, but I would be willing to sign a bill which created an independent Treasury.
- Do you have any criticism of the authorities in Illinois, regarding their failure to properly protect Joseph Smith before his assassination in June?This is not an issue that we plan to address in our campaign.
- Is there a particular state where your party should concentrate its resources and most talented speakers as the election draws near?New York
- 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.?Oregon is a different issue than that of Texas. In Oregon we have an existing, legitimate claim.