Campaign Trail Results: Game #765782
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 % |
---|---|---|---|
---- Barack Obama | 347 | 66,581,908 | 51.70 |
---- Mitt Romney | 191 | 61,019,484 | 47.38 |
---- Gary Johnson | 0 | 853,849 | 0.66 |
---- Jill Stein | 0 | 336,397 | 0.26 |
Visits:
- North Carolina:6
- Missouri:2
- Ohio:2
- Florida:1
- Indiana:1
Answers:
- Some involved with the space program have suggested sending astronauts to Mars, or even forming moon colonies. What is your take?Absolutely. We need a return to the days when America dreamed big, and when children were inspired to reach for the stars.
- 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?The proper authority for enforcement rests with the federal government. This law goes further than federal laws and even if constitutional, should be repealed.
- Should the federal government continue to finance newer companies that attempt to develop alternative energy resources, such as solar power and electric car manufacturers?Every day that we don't invest in solar power is a day that we fall further behind countries like China and Germany. Investment should be increased.
- Do you support a larger fence or even a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent illegal immigration?The border fence should become a border wall, with more depth to its patrols. It is simply too easy for migrants to sneak across the border right now.
- Would you support posting active U.S. Army troops on the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent illegal immigration and drug smuggling?I don't agree with that course of action. The Border Patrol is in place to do just that job.
- What is your position on gay marriage?Gay marriage should be protected at the federal level. The Defense of Marriage Act should be repealed.
- 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.
- What do you think we should do next in regards to Social Security?Talking about a bankrupt Social Security program is a right wing scare tactic. We could afford to increase benefits if we really wanted to.
- 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 is a good program overall. Perhaps some minor details can be fixed, but without standardized testing there is no way to monitor the quality of our educational system.
- What is your opinion on directing some Department of Education funding towards a school voucher program?This practice undermines our public education system, and should not be permitted.
- 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.
- Do you think the Death with Dignity Act in Oregon could be a model for broader federal legislation on the issue?That's ridiculous. Of course not.
- 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.
- 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?The U.S.-China relationship has destroyed middle class jobs for close to three decades. We need drastic changes including more protection for American manufacturing.
- Should American workers have the right to invest their Social Security withholdings in private accounts?This is the first step that those who wish to abolish Social Security would like to implement. The integrity of Social Security should be preserved at all times.
- 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?We have passed the Dodd-Frank Act to analyze systemic risks to the financial system.
- Christina Romer -- formerly the Chairperson on your Council of Economic Advisors -- stated in 2009 that unemployment would be less than 6% by 2012 if the stimulus package was enacted. What went wrong, and did the results of the stimulus have any bearing on her resignation?First of all, this had no bearing on her decision to leave the Obama Administration. Secondly, the economy was in much worse shape in early 2009 than anyone realized. Since that time we have repeatedly tried to pass additional stimulus measures and have been thwarted by House Republicans at every opportunity.
- Some liberals say that you have done more to help Wall Street banks than hard-working Americans. Are you open to a more universal program of mortgage write-downs if housing prices continue to decline?We might consider purchasing delinquent mortgages and renting the homes out until a price recovery ensues. This will benefit those who are underwater on a mortgage, and will also stabilize home prices for the larger community.
- 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.
- Do you think Hillary Clinton would make a good Presidential candidate in 2016?Hillary Clinton is a wonderful, talented woman and I wish her all the best if she decides to pursue that course in four years.
- Joe Biden made what can only be described as a gaffe on the campaign trail today. What are your comments?What can you say? We've all been out here for weeks with very little sleep. No one knows more about foreign policy than Joe Biden, so I'm sure it was just a slip of the tongue.
- What is your guiding foreign policy philosophy?Pragmatism -- Our foreign policy right now is effective. We need to guide foreign nations towards democracy and open markets. Doing so will increase the world's prosperity and decrease the chance of future wars.
- In the most general terms, what will be your overall campaign strategy against Romney?I will promise a fresh start in overcoming the gridlock in Washington. In my second term I will reach out to moderates and sensible Republicans to find common, pragmatic solutions to our most pressing issues.