Campaign Trail Results: Game #725866
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 1976
- Player Candidate: Gerald Ford
- Running Mate: Howard Baker
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Winner Take All Mode?: Yes
- Game Played:
View overall results, or a specific state:
| Candidate | Electoral Votes | Popular Votes | Pop. Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ---- Gerald Ford | 466 | 42,573,599 | 52.36 |
| ---- Jimmy Carter | 72 | 37,173,266 | 45.72 |
| ---- Other Candidates | 0 | 839,323 | 1.03 |
| ---- Eugene McCarthy | 0 | 724,630 | 0.89 |
Visits:
- New York:3
- North Carolina:3
- Minnesota:2
- Mississippi:1
- Missouri:1
- Texas:1
- Virginia:1
Answers:
- What will your overall campaign strategy be this year?I'm an approachable, open guy with an open Administration. Let's emphasize my mainstream values and positions, and avoid extremist rhetoric or attacks on Jimmy Carter.
- 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?I agree. We can't have this kind of thing on the Ford Administration. He should leave immediately.
- 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?This is an issue that has been blown way out of proportion. In many of these cases, I've proposed my own alternative to a given bill, and Congress has acted on it.
- 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 Howard Baker as your running mate. Can you speak a little more about that?Howard Baker knows how to get things done in Washington, and he has always fought hard for the Republican agenda.
- 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.We have to consider each case individually. New York was a one time thing, and they also had to make significant reforms before this loan was approved.
- What is your position on a pardon of Vietnam War draft evaders?Millions of American men accepted their responsibilities and served admirably, but I can see the case for an eventual pardon. Perhaps towards the end of my term.
- 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."?I support the passage of this Amendment, and think it is a good thing for America.
- 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?I don't support cuts, to be sure, but neither do we need increases. We have made great strides in reducing tension with the Soviet Union.
- What is your opinion on abortion, and specifically the recent Roe v. Wade decision?I will uphold the law as President, but I think it should be left to each state to decide. I would support an Amendment on this issue.
- 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?I'm a big supporter of domestic oil production. One thing we can definitely do is begin to drill in Alaska.
- 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.
- Should there be a ban on nuclear weapons testing?This is an issue I'd have to consider carefully, but perhaps if we got the Soviet Union on board I'd be open to it.
- The United States started selling large amounts of grain to the Soviet Union, in 1973. What is your opinion on this policy?This policy is a win-win for us. It helps our own farmers prosper, and it is a public relations victory for the world to see the Soviet Union depending on American enterprise.
- In 1972, George McGovern proposed replacing the income tax exemption with a $1,000 guaranteed minimum income, for every American citizen. Are you interested in this type of proposal?I think the current forms of tax exemptions and aid we have are sufficient. This would be another huge, costly, and complicated program to administer when we are trying to reduce our deficit.
- Could we have done more to save South Vietnam in 1975, such as air strikes or a limited engagement?We defeated ourselves throughout this war. American firepower could have knocked North Vietnam into submission if we had been more aggressive.
- Do you support the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Act?I can see both sides of this issue, but if Congress passes this Act I won't veto it as President.
- Would you support a law for universal health care in this country?I think it is a noble goal, but it would add too much of a financial burden to the federal budget, which is already running a deficit.
- Where will you focus your efforts on the last day before the election?The Midwest is critical. We'll hit as many states as we can between Iowa and Ohio.
