Campaign Trail Results: Game #746454
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 1844
- Player Candidate: Henry Clay
- Running Mate: Theodore Frelinghuysen
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Winner Take All Mode?: Yes
- Game Played:
View overall results, or a specific state:
| Candidate | Electoral Votes | Popular Votes | Pop. Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ---- James K. Polk | 149 | 1,307,499 | 48.18 |
| ---- Henry Clay | 126 | 1,268,184 | 46.73 |
| ---- James Birney | 0 | 138,162 | 5.09 |
| ---- 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?It might be best if I don't appear overly friendly to leading Democrats. Especially one as unpopular as Van Buren.
- What points will emphasize in your acceptance letter, as you accept the Whig nomination for President?I support the annexation of Texas, so long as the admission of that state is paired with the admission of a free state. I will briefly mention that my positions on other issues are well-known and remain the same.
- What position will you take on the Texas annexation issue?This discussion has grown tiresome, but let me restate that I support the annexation of Texas.
- 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?Thomas Birney is a stooge of the Democrats, attempting to agitate emotions and divide our party. People ought to feel free to vote for him if they want to hand this election to James K. Polk.
- Do you still support the idea that the federal government should purchase the telegraph patent and manage the technology?I absolutely believe that the development of telegraph lines should take its place alongside canals, harbors, and railroads as a national prerogative.
- 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?We should avoid taking a strong position on this tariff. There are men in our party who stand on both sides of the issue.
- 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?Congress must function in an orderly fashion, without taking time out from its business to receive ill-conceived petitions. I support the Gag Rule.
- 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.?I believe that the United States, in line with the “Manifest Destiny” ideal, should expand wherever feasible.
- Would you sign a law that lowered tariffs below the level needed to protect American industry from foreign imports?I would be forced to veto such a measure as President.
- Do you support any effort to establish a unified, national currency?Only if we could establish one without chartering a new national bank.
- Do you agree with Robert Walker's letter, arguing that that slavery issue will be diluted by national expansion?We won't address Mr. Walker's letter directly, but we are in favor of annexation.
- After the unfortunate death of Abel Upshur in the Princeton explosion, John Calhoun succeeded him as Secretary of State. Was this a wise appointment by President Tyler?We don't have any plans to comment upon the Cabinet appointments of President Tyler.
- Regardless of your personal feelings, would you sign an act which established an independent Treasury for the government's funds?The creation of an independent Treasury will be one of the key initiatives of my Presidency.
- 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