Campaign Trail Results: Game #871210
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 2012
- Player Candidate: Mitt Romney
- Running Mate: Marco Rubio
- 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 | 66,968,942 | 51.80 |
| ---- Mitt Romney | 191 | 61,043,285 | 47.22 |
| ---- Gary Johnson | 0 | 937,093 | 0.72 |
| ---- Jill Stein | 0 | 337,505 | 0.26 |
Visits:
- Ohio:9
- Florida:2
- Wisconsin: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.
- Should the United States have been so quick to drop its support for Hosni Mubarak in 2011, given recent events in Egypt?We have allowed one of the last moderate regimes in the Middle East to be replaced by Muslim fundamentalists. This is an unconscionable betrayal of our ally Israel and will harm American security.
- To what extent should offshore drilling be permitted in the Gulf of Mexico?We need this oil to put America on a path towards energy independence.
- How long should U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan?I can't comment on that question without emboldening the enemy. I will consult with military leaders to determine our best course of action.
- What is your position on gay marriage?Under no circumstances should the sacred institution of marriage be undermined. The Defense of Marriage Act was passed specifially to address this issue.
- Is the United States too reliant on fossil fuels for its energy needs?Just drill baby. We need more development of our fossil fuels to reduce foreign dependence.
- Do you support allowing the Bush Tax Cuts to expire for high-income households at the end of 2012?We should keep the tax cuts as is for the foreseeable future. I don't think it's sound economics to rise taxes on this group.
- What do you think we should do next in regards to Social Security?You know, the projected shortfall that people talk of, we're not even talking about the Trust Fund making a net payout until 2033. Maybe there are some tweaks we can make to the program, but it is fundamentally sound.
- Would it help our economy if government employment was increased? Or would this divert valuable resources from the private sector?It's dangerous to rely too much on government as opposed to the private sector. We shouldn't be looking at government spending and employment to resolve these issues.
- Does it still make sense to provide military aid to Pakistan's government?Osama Bin Laden was living in a mansion that the government paid for with our money. It's time for this relationship to end.
- 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?This program will be a disaster. Not only is it an unconstitutional violation of personal freedom, but it will lead to a decline in American health care and will prove to be financially impossible to maintain without socializing the health care system.
- Should the DEA prosecute medicinal marijuana growers in states where that practice has been legalized?We might disagree with these laws, but it is the responsibility of the DEA to uphold them. I do think we can look into reducing the penalties, which should decrease the strain on our prisons and allow people a second chance to lead productive lives.
- The maximum duration of unemployment insurance, with all extensions factored in, has been reduced from 99 weeks. Do you think this is appropriate in the current economic climate?That is nearly two years. We need unemployment benefits but these extensions were clearly out of control.
- 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.
- Should American workers have the right to invest their Social Security withholdings in private accounts?No sensible investor would put a dime into the Social Security program if they weren't forced to by law. It is unfair to ask America's workers to put money into a program that has no promise of ever providing them with benefits.
- Are you satisfied with the provisions within the 2012 Federal Highway Bill that could salvage over two million jobs in the construction industry?Maybe we had our disagreements over the exact size and nature of this spending, but nobody seriously thinks that we should stop funding our highways.
- The Supreme Court will be deciding an affirmative action case this fall involving the University of Texas. Should colleges be allowed to consider the race of an applicant when deciding whether to admit them?I oppose discrimination in all of its forms. Colleges should be forced to admit based on the merit of their applications, in a color-blind fashion.
- The most recent poll showed you slipping by a couple of percentage points. Are you planning on making any changes in your campaign to address this?We don't pay attention to things like polls and focus groups. We just go out every day and present our message to the American people. Everything else will take care of itself.
- 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 is a terrible idea. Can't you just picture twenty million employees performing make-work jobs at miniscule wages?
- 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.
- Would you nominate any Democrats to your cabinet if elected?I can't say who exactly will be in the Cabinet, but I'm not opposed to having Democrats in my Administration.
- What will be the overriding theme of your nomination speech at the Republican Convention?I will hammer on the theme that Obama has completely failed the United States as President. He has presided over the largest deficit increases and highest unemployment rate in almost a hundred years.
- 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?We will attack Barack Obama relentlessly. He has gone back on his pledge to clean up our political system, he has destroyed hundreds of thousands of jobs in his first term, his values are out of touch with those of most Americans, and his health care reform is disastrous.