Campaign Trail Results: Game #668476

This Game:

  • Year: 1976
  • Player Candidate: Gerald Ford
  • Running Mate: John Connally
  • Difficulty Level: Easy
  • Winner Take All Mode?: No
  • Game Played:
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View overall results, or a specific state:
CandidateElectoral VotesPopular VotesPop. Vote %
---- Gerald Ford28940,719,45750.40
---- Jimmy Carter24838,490,87647.64
---- Other Candidates1843,5991.04
---- Eugene McCarthy0746,0780.92

Visits:

  • North Carolina:3
  • Tennessee:3
  • Florida:1
  • Indiana:1
  • Michigan:1
  • Ohio:1
  • Texas:1
  • Virginia:1

Answers:

  • What will your overall campaign strategy be this year?
    We barely defeated Ronald Reagan to win our nomination in the first place. We should take conservative positions and make sure we shore up our support in that area.
  • A lot of voters are concerned about honesty and integrity in our government. What can you say about yourself in this aspect, particularly in light of your pardon of Richard Nixon?
    I will let the cameras into the White House so the people can see for themselves. I'm a normal, approachable, friendly President. I didn't spend my whole life trying to run for the office.
  • Your Secretary of Agriculture, Earl Butz, will be quoted in next week's Rolling Stone as making some very crude and racist jokes. Some have suggested you fire him before the article is released. What are your thoughts?
    Let's have him leave the day that the article comes out. That way the connection is clear.
  • There is talk of a Presidential Debate for the first time since 1960. Is this something that you're interested in doing?
    I think this is a good idea, and we need something to shake this campaign up.
  • You have vetoed a significant number of bills in your two years as President. What was your reasoning?
    Congress is simply too liberal to be a useful partner in government right now. I hope that the American people will elect Republican congressman to be my partners over the next four years.
  • Some of your operatives want to attack Carter for the way he has equivocated on abortion, gun control, busing, labor issues, and so on. Will you approve a series of ads labeling him as a "flip-flopper"?
    Maybe some limited spots, asking if we really know who Jimmy Carter is. Or attacking him on one of these issues. But let's not go overboard.
  • Your campaign has just received a big break in the form of a controversial interview that Carter did with Playboy, where he confessed to "committing adultery in his heart" and used some coarse language. Any thoughts?
    This is great. We need any good news we can get at this point.
  • You have selected John Connally as your running mate. Can you speak a little more about that?
    Connally was a loyal Democrat for many years, but anyone can see how their party has lurched away from the mainstream. I think he can remind Americans that Republicans are the sensible, governing party in this country.
  • General George Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has made some comments that Israel has become a "burden" to the national defense effort. Do you agree with this?
    I disagree strongly and believe that General Brown should be removed from this position for such comments. Israel is one of our most valued allies.
  • What is your position on the federal government making loans to states or cities in need of financial help? An obvious recent example is the $2.3 billion bailout of New York city.
    I couldn't really comment until I saw what the specifics of the case would be.
  • What is your position on a pardon of Vietnam War draft evaders?
    Of course this war was controversial, but I oppose any pardon for people who evaded their military service. This would not send the right message in a future crisis.
  • Do you support the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, which states "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."?
    We already have too many grounds for the federal government to interfere in the economy. This would add another new set of regulations that we can't afford.
  • What is your opinion on the court-ordered busing of students within school districts, in a way designed to achieve racial balance in our schools?
    I am opposed to these plans and believe that the courts have erred greatly.
  • Do you believe that the United States can afford a reduction in defense spending?
    As President I will remain vigilant against the Soviet threat. Under no circumstances would I decrease our defense budget.
  • What is your opinion on abortion, and specifically the recent Roe v. Wade decision?
    I'm personally opposed to abortion, but I respect this decision and will not try to overturn it.
  • Do you think that the tax cuts in early 1975 were the right economic policy for this country?
    This was a good policy. Our economy has rebounded considerably since early 1975, and millions of new jobs have been created.
  • How can we best prevent another episode like the 1973 oil crisis, which paralyzed the country?
    We need to do anything we can, including reducing our consumption, working for peace deals, producing domestically, and stabilizing our relationships with oil-producing allies.
  • Do you have a position on the gun control issue?
    Gun control is ineffective in reducing crime rates. I think a better option would be to examine our sentencing guidelines, and make sure that we put criminals in jail.
  • Do you think that the Panama Canal should be turned back over to Panama?
    Absolutely not. The United States built this canal and it is a central part of world commerce. Who knows what might happen if we put Panama in charge.
  • What is your position on right-to-work laws? Would you support a national bill to repeal Taft-Hartley and do away with right-to-work?
    I go more the other way on this issue. I think that more states should be right-to-work. Unions dangerously distort the economy and the political process.
  • Could we have done more to save South Vietnam in 1975, such as air strikes or a limited engagement?
    We were trying to provide more aid to South Vietnam, but Congress would not approve additional expenditures. The results of that policy are clear.
  • Do you support the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Act?
    This Act has no basis in economic reality. If we could wave a magic wand and ensure 3% unemployment and 0% inflation with a balanced budget and no trade deficit, do you think we wouldn't have done it already?
  • Would you support a law for universal health care in this country?
    Absolutely not. Not only would this ruin the federal budget, but it would also eliminate competition and lead to substandard health care for the vast majority of Americans.
  • What are your feelings in the Gregg v. Georgia case, recently decided, that allows capital punishment in the U.S.?
    This is a positive step forward for our criminal justice system. Certain crimes, like murder, demand such punishment if true justice is to prevail.
  • Where will you focus your efforts on the last day before the election?
    We will hit the West Coast hard, from Washington, through Oregon, down to California.