Campaign Trail Results: Game #751051
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 2012
- Player Candidate: Barack Obama
- Running Mate: Hillary Clinton
- Difficulty Level: Normal
- Winner Take All Mode?: Yes
- Game Played:
View overall results, or a specific state:
| Candidate | Electoral Votes | Popular Votes | Pop. Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ---- Mitt Romney | 276 | 64,316,652 | 49.53 |
| ---- Barack Obama | 262 | 64,292,184 | 49.52 |
| ---- Gary Johnson | 0 | 909,796 | 0.70 |
| ---- Jill Stein | 0 | 324,085 | 0.25 |
Visits:
- Florida:3
- North Carolina:3
- Ohio:3
- Georgia:2
- Iowa:1
Answers:
- 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?This is an unconscionable violation of civil rights and will certainly lead to racial profiling.
- How do you view the practice of hydraulic fracturing (aka 'fracking') in the Dakotas and elsewhere?I'm very skeptical of the idea that we can trust oil companies to look out for the interests of the little guy. There should be greater regulations to preserve the safety of our water supply.
- 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?Unions have been eviscerated by decades of outsourcing. Public unions are a necessary bulwark of the middle class and should have every right to bargain for fair wages and benefits.
- Would you support posting active U.S. Army troops on the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent illegal immigration and drug smuggling?This is probably unconstitutional and would represent another step in the transformation of our country into a police state.
- What is your position on gay marriage?Gay marriage should be protected at the federal level. The Defense of Marriage Act should be repealed.
- Is the United States too reliant on fossil fuels for its energy needs?The answer is obvious. By continuing to rely on non-renewable energy sources, we place ourselves at greater risk for future energy shocks and we contribute to global warming.
- Do you support allowing the Bush Tax Cuts to expire for high-income households at the end of 2012?I support letting the cuts expire. It's time that wealthy Americans paid their fair share for the opportunities our society gives to them.
- Would you sign a bill to make English the Official Language of the United States?You know, that's a theoretical issue that is unlikely to come up, and I think we should move along to a discussion of the issues that concern Americans the most, like the economy and getting everyone back to work.
- We have now had 10 years to analyze the effects of the No Child Left Behind Act. Do you think it is time for a change?This idea was a failure from day one. Federal education funds are needed the most in low-income districts which have disproportionately suffered from this legislation.
- 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?I'm convinced that this program will work. This is a good compromise allowing private insurers to conduct business, while securing access to health insurance for more Americans. If anything, the increased transparency will reduce insurance costs.
- Should the DEA prosecute medicinal marijuana growers in states where that practice has been legalized?This entire thing wouldn't even be an issue if marijuana were decriminalized as it should be. The DEA should never be prosecuting non-violent, licensed growers of medicinal marijuana.
- Is it time for the federal government to cut spending, even with the economy growing at less than 2% annually?It is not a good idea to cut the size of the government in the midst of a recession. Shrinking payrolls at the state level have served to drag down our most recent recovery.
- Do you have any comment to make on the performance of Ben Bernanke as Chairman of the Federal Reserve?Bernanke has performed admirably given the challenges he has faced.
- Do you see any need for a United States Institute of Peace?This agency performs valuable research on how to avoid future conflicts. It will pay for itself many times over if it succeeds at that mission.
- The budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development was cut by nearly $4 billion in 2012. Do you think subsidized housing for the poor is a good place to begin reducing the federal deficit?$4 billion barely puts a dent in the size of the deficit. If we made a serious attempt to cut the size of the military our savings would be vastly greater.
- What is your opinion on the Tea Party movement?A funny thing happened on January 20, 2009 -- millions of people who supported Bush's deficits suddenly flip-flopped into budget hawks. This group is obviously just a political front for the far right wing of the Republican Party.
- Should federal fuel taxes be slightly increased (they have been the same since 1993) to avoid another catastrophe like the Minnesota bridge collapse of 2007?I don't see a problem with a small increase. We should be encouraging other forms of transportation, and on top of that our highways are woefully underfunded.
- Should large banks like Chase, Citibank, and Bank of America be broken up to reduce the risk of another financial crisis?Too big to fail is too big to exist. It's pathetic just how much our representatives have allowed themselves to be bought by financial institutions.
- Who are the real job creators in this country -- hardworking American citizens or Washington bureaucrats?American small business, obviously. I will be their champion as President.
- Some theorists have suggested that the government create guaranteed jobs at the federal minimum wage, to help support the labor market. Is this something that you would consider?This sounds like a political non-starter. It's an interesting idea but let's steer the conversation towards something more productive.
- Mitt Romney was the CEO of Bain Capital for many years. What can you say about his time at that firm?I think this just serves to reinforce how detached and out of touch Romney is from the average working American. This is a man who spends more money maintaining a horse than most people earn in an entire year.
- What will be the overriding theme of your nomination speech at the Democratic Convention?I will give an honest speech about the challenges I was facing in 2009, what I did to address them, what I tried to do that was blocked by Republican obstructionism, and what jobs policies I will continue to push for in my second term.
- Over half of all sexual harassment complaints filed in 2011 were dismissed -- an increase from previous years. Do you think enough is being done to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace?I'm very concerned about this issue. I would like to see our funding level increase for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, so that adequate resources are in place to pursue these claims.
- What is your guiding foreign policy philosophy?Human Rights -- It's past time that we cut allegiances with dictators like the House of Saud and truly lived up to our ideals. I will only support or give aid to democratically elected leaders.
- In the most general terms, what will be your overall campaign strategy against Romney?Behind the scenes my surrogates have plenty of dirt to spread about Romney and the Republicans. As President, I will stick to a message of optimism and hope in my own campaign speeches.