Campaign Trail Results: Game #681933

This Game:

  • Year: 2012
  • Player Candidate: Mitt Romney
  • Running Mate: Tim Pawlenty
  • Difficulty Level: Normal
  • Winner Take All Mode?: Yes
  • Game Played:
  • AriWeintraub
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View overall results, or a specific state:
CandidateElectoral VotesPopular VotesPop. Vote %
---- Mitt Romney28564,306,84549.94
---- Barack Obama25363,297,72849.16
---- Gary Johnson0858,7460.67
---- Jill Stein0307,0860.24

Visits:

  • Ohio:3
  • Pennsylvania:3
  • Virginia:3
  • Florida:1
  • Iowa:1
  • Wisconsin:1

Answers:

  • Should the government be doing more to stabilize home prices?
    For the most part, I don't think that's appropriate. There are some limited areas, like relaxing restrictions on foreign ownership, where we can still help out.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • In November 2011, Ohio voters rejected a law to limit collective bargaining power for public unions. Do public sector unions such as teachers' and police unions have too much bargaining power?
    That's an issue for the states to decide. You know, the federal government does not support collective bargaining for its employees, so it's not appropriate for me to comment on a state matter.
  • Should the United States contribute funds to help stabilize the European Union's sovereign debt problems, in order to prevent a possible debt contagion?
    We need to focus on getting our own house in order, or we will soon find ourselves in their condition.
  • 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.
  • What do you think we should do next in regards to Social Security?
    You know, the projected shortfall that people talk of, we're not even talking about the Trust Fund making a net payout until 2033. Maybe there are some tweaks we can make to the program, but it is fundamentally sound.
  • What is your opinion on directing some Department of Education funding towards a school voucher program?
    In limited cases, such as those currently in place, there is a role for vouchers. But improving public education should be our primary focus.
  • In general, do you think bilingual education programs are a good idea?
    For new immigrants who do not yet speak English, there is a need for some bilingual programs. However, there should be strict time limits on how long students may remain enrolled.
  • 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.
  • Apple's use of cheap, Chinese labor via Foxconn has increased the visibility of labor conditions in that country. Do you think that China competes unfairly with the U.S. by denying basic rights to its workers?
    Any trade deals should be negotiated with a fair balance between American and Chinese interests. China is not doing enough to protect the rights of their workers, which gives them an unfair advantage in global trade.
  • Should the Social Security Trust Fund be purchasing U.S. Treasury bills? Should it be allowed to invest in other bonds and securities to potentially increase its rate of return? Or conversely, should the funds be held in a 'lockbox' to guarantee benefit payments?
    I think anyone who has managed money can tell you there is a place for U.S. Treasuries in any professional portfolio. Allowing the Social Security fund to invest in other securities opens a huge number of potential problems and conflicts of interest.
  • What is your opinion on the Occupy Wall Street movement?
    I don't approve of these tactics. These protestors need to grow up and work within the system.
  • What actions do you support to mitigate the effects of climate change?
    Even if climate change is real, it's impossible to determine how much of it results from human action. It's just as possible that the earth is warming of its own accord, and it makes no sense to disrupt our economy and potentially cause a depression until we have more information.
  • The Supreme Court will be deciding an affirmative action case this fall involving the University of Texas. Should colleges be allowed to consider the race of an applicant when deciding whether to admit them?
    I oppose discrimination in all of its forms. Colleges should be forced to admit based on the merit of their applications, in a color-blind fashion.
  • 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?
    These programs should only aid the truly needy. It seems like the criteria is a little loose to me.
  • The most recent poll showed you slipping by a couple of percentage points. Are you planning on making any changes in your campaign to address this?
    We don't pay attention to things like polls and focus groups. We just go out every day and present our message to the American people. Everything else will take care of itself.
  • 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.
  • Tell us how you feel about the Keystone Pipeline.
    Now isn't the best time to decide this. Perhaps in 2013 we can make a rational decision that is not influenced by politics.
  • Do FEMA insurance payouts encourage real estate developers to build in disaster prone areas?
    There is absolutely a danger of this happening. That's why we have a National Flood Insurance Program which provides strict guidelines on where people are permitted to build.
  • What will be the overriding theme of your nomination speech at the Republican Convention?
    My message will be a message of hope. After four years of economic blight the American people need to feel good about themselves, and they need to know that their efforts will be rewarded with material prosperity.
  • What is your guiding foreign policy philosophy?
    American Exceptionalism -- Providence has given America to the world as an inspiration, and we must vigorously defend the ideals of peace and freedom wherever they may be threatened.
  • 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.