Campaign Trail Results: Game #791566
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 2012
- Player Candidate: Mitt Romney
- Running Mate: Rob Portman
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Winner Take All Mode?: Yes
- Game Played:
View overall results, or a specific state:
| Candidate | Electoral Votes | Popular Votes | Pop. Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ---- Mitt Romney | 347 | 68,147,721 | 52.67 |
| ---- Barack Obama | 191 | 60,109,502 | 46.46 |
| ---- Gary Johnson | 0 | 834,403 | 0.64 |
| ---- Jill Stein | 0 | 290,890 | 0.22 |
Visits:
- Michigan:4
- New Mexico:2
- New York:2
- Colorado:1
- Delaware:1
- Pennsylvania:1
- Washington:1
Answers:
- Some observers have argued that an embargo of Cuba makes little sense in a post Cold War environment. What do you think?Are you suggesting that after fifty years of putting pressure on the Communist regime, when we're now so close to restoring democracy to that island, that we suddenly give up and let Castro win?
- 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 federal government has forced Arizona's hand by being too lax on enforcement for far too long.
- The water level of Lake Mead (the reservoir near Hoover Dam) has been steadily dropping in recent years. Should the Bureau of Reclamation regulate the use of this water more strictly?I think the system we have in place is working. There will be ebbs and flows in the water level, but we've already seen it start to rebound the last couple of years.
- Does it make sense to dispose our nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada?As a sovereign state, Nevada has every right to reject this proposal. Nobody wants to live next to a toxic nuclear waste site.
- Should the United States have been so quick to drop its support for Hosni Mubarak in 2011, given recent events in Egypt?We should have been more active in brokering a compromise solution between Mubarak and the protestors.
- How do you view the practice of hydraulic fracturing (aka 'fracking') in the Dakotas and elsewhere?This is a generational shift in the world energy game in the favor of the United States. There are plenty of regulations in place to protect our drinking water, and we simply cannot afford to miss out on the benefits of shale oil.
- What is your position on gay marriage?I think civil unions are an acceptable compromise for the majority of mainstream Americans.
- 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.
- Do you support continued subsidies for the production of ethanol fuel?These subsidies were well-intentioned, but I think that solar and wind have more long-term potential.
- 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?There is a danger of 'teaching to the test'. We do need some testing in place, but to do so on an annual basis is too frequent and interferes with good educational practice.
- Do you support increased restrictions on handgun ownership?Gun rights are protected by the Second Amendment. Furthermore, an armed citizenry is our best defense against crime and government tyranny.
- 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.
- 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 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?This is a corrupt, ludicrous practice which Congress uses to hide the true size of our budget and Social Security deficits.
- Are you satisfied with the provisions within the 2012 Federal Highway Bill that could salvage over two million jobs in the construction industry?We should monitor these expenditures very closely to make sure that they are being allocated properly. There is always the chance of cronyism and misappropriation when there is spending of this magnitude.
- How do you feel about capitalism and the free market?Since the founding of our country, the free market has always been a bulwark of our prosperity.
- Federal funding for Community Health Centers has more than doubled in the past ten years to over $2 billion annually. Is this an example of out of control government spending?There are too many mismanaged, ineffective programs like this one to even count. Someone needs to put their foot down on this issue.
- This morning you went to an elementary school and read books to a class of second-graders. How did you enjoy yourself?It's always refreshing to spend my morning in a classroom full of America's future leaders and inventors.
- 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 don't think we should jump to any conclusions based on one or two years of data. I'm glad you bring this up though. It's a subject worthy of further study by an official panel.
- Is your campaign planning to allow Ron Paul a high-profile speaking slot at the Republican Convention, in light of the number of delegates that he commands?You know, it couldn't hurt to give Mr. Paul a few minutes outside of prime time. Even if his views are a little on the fringe, he does have a very committed following. I'm willing to compromise on a couple of issues if that's what it takes to bring them in.
- If elected, what will you do to repeal Obamacare?I will offer an alternative health care reform plan which doesn't regulate private insurers to such an unrealistic extreme. I will work for malpractice reform as well, so that unnecessary litigation does not continue to drive up the cost of health care.
- Recent reports have highlighted the large amount of money that you and your wife spend on racing horses. Have you ever bet more than $10,000 on a horse race?Absolutely not. I wouldn't think of making a bet this large.
- 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.