Campaign Trail Results: Game #970524
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 1976
- Player Candidate: Gerald Ford
- Running Mate: John Anderson
- Difficulty Level: Normal
- Winner Take All Mode?: Yes
- Game Played:
thebensheppard
View overall results, or a specific state:
| Candidate | Electoral Votes | Popular Votes | Pop. Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ---- Jimmy Carter | 311 | 40,990,327 | 50.27 |
| ---- Gerald Ford | 227 | 38,890,924 | 47.69 |
| ---- Other Candidates | 0 | 880,735 | 1.08 |
| ---- Eugene McCarthy | 0 | 783,592 | 0.96 |
Visits:
- Hawaii:3
- Ohio:3
- Wisconsin:2
- Maine:1
- New York:1
- Oklahoma:1
- Virginia:1
Answers:
- What will your overall campaign strategy be this year?I am the President of the United States and we should exploit that fact. Show me presiding over the Bicentennial, meeting with Queen Elizabeth, and generally looking like a President. My record speaks for itself.
- A lot of voters are concerned about honesty and integrity in our government. What can you say about yourself in this aspect, particularly in light of your pardon of Richard Nixon?I will let the cameras into the White House so the people can see for themselves. I'm a normal, approachable, friendly President. I didn't spend my whole life trying to run for the office.
- Your Secretary of Agriculture, Earl Butz, will be quoted in next week's Rolling Stone as making some very crude and racist jokes. Some have suggested you fire him before the article is released. What are your thoughts?I agree. We can't have this kind of thing on the Ford Administration. He should leave immediately.
- There is talk of a Presidential Debate for the first time since 1960. Is this something that you're interested in doing?I think this is a good idea, and we need something to shake this campaign up.
- Betty Ford is out there making some pretty bold statements about sexuality, marijuana, and other topics. Conservatives want to know if you can have a quiet chat with her to tone it down a bit.What do you want me to say? She's my wife. Can't people find something better to worry about?
- You have vetoed a significant number of bills in your two years as President. What was your reasoning?This is an issue that has been blown way out of proportion. In many of these cases, I've proposed my own alternative to a given bill, and Congress has acted on it.
- Some of your operatives want to attack Carter for the way he has equivocated on abortion, gun control, busing, labor issues, and so on. Will you approve a series of ads labeling him as a "flip-flopper"? Maybe some limited spots, asking if we really know who Jimmy Carter is. Or attacking him on one of these issues. But let's not go overboard.
- Your campaign has just received a big break in the form of a controversial interview that Carter did with Playboy, where he confessed to "committing adultery in his heart" and used some coarse language. Any thoughts?This is great. We need any good news we can get at this point.
- You have selected John Anderson as your running mate. Can you speak a little more about that?John Anderson has served his home state of Illinois well, and he is the best man for the job.
- Ronald Reagan and some of his allies can't hide their disappointment in your running mate, and some of them are even saying Carter is better than a Ford-Anderson Administration. Do you have any comment?John Anderson is a lifelong Republican and he has the right views on all the important issues for our country. We need a guy like him if we hope to win the independent voters away from Jimmy Carter.
- What is your position on the federal government making loans to states or cities in need of financial help? An obvious recent example is the $2.3 billion bailout of New York city.We have to consider each case individually. New York was a one time thing, and they also had to make significant reforms before this loan was approved.
- What is your position on a pardon of Vietnam War draft evaders?Millions of American men accepted their responsibilities and served admirably, but I can see the case for an eventual pardon. Perhaps towards the end of my term.
- Do you support the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, which states "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."?We already have too many grounds for the federal government to interfere in the economy. This would add another new set of regulations that we can't afford.
- What is your opinion on the court-ordered busing of students within school districts, in a way designed to achieve racial balance in our schools?I am opposed to these plans and believe that the courts have erred greatly.
- Do you believe that the United States can afford a reduction in defense spending?As President I will remain vigilant against the Soviet threat. Under no circumstances would I decrease our defense budget.
- What is your opinion on abortion, and specifically the recent Roe v. Wade decision?I will uphold the law as President, but I think it should be left to each state to decide. I would support an Amendment on this issue.
- How can we best prevent another episode like the 1973 oil crisis, which paralyzed the country?We need to cultivate relationships like the ones we have with Iran and Saudi Arabia, to ensure that we have support from Middle Eastern oil producers.
- Do you have a position on the gun control issue?I'm an opponent of gun control overall, but some common-sense measures like the 1968 Act are appropriate.
- What is your position on right-to-work laws? Would you support a national bill to repeal Taft-Hartley and do away with right-to-work?This isn't an issue that I have strong feelings about, one way or the other. I think it is the kind of thing that each state can figure out for themselves.
- Should there be a ban on nuclear weapons testing?This is an issue I'd have to consider carefully, but perhaps if we got the Soviet Union on board I'd be open to it.
- The United States started selling large amounts of grain to the Soviet Union, in 1973. What is your opinion on this policy?This policy is a win-win for us. It helps our own farmers prosper, and it is a public relations victory for the world to see the Soviet Union depending on American enterprise.
- In 1972, George McGovern proposed replacing the income tax exemption with a $1,000 guaranteed minimum income, for every American citizen. Are you interested in this type of proposal?This kind of idea is way off the mark. We need to focus on reducing the size of government and lowering taxes.
- Do you support the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Act?This Act has no basis in economic reality. If we could wave a magic wand and ensure 3% unemployment and 0% inflation with a balanced budget and no trade deficit, do you think we wouldn't have done it already?
- Would you support a law for universal health care in this country?Absolutely not. Not only would this ruin the federal budget, but it would also eliminate competition and lead to substandard health care for the vast majority of Americans.
- Where will you focus your efforts on the last day before the election?We will focus on the Southwest, starting in New Mexico and Oklahoma, and finishing in Texas.