Campaign Trail Results: Game #971724
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 2012
- Player Candidate: Barack Obama
- Running Mate: Joe Biden
- Difficulty Level: Hard
- Winner Take All Mode?: Yes
- Game Played:
View overall results, or a specific state:
| Candidate | Electoral Votes | Popular Votes | Pop. Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ---- Barack Obama | 332 | 67,534,681 | 52.09 |
| ---- Mitt Romney | 206 | 60,879,081 | 46.96 |
| ---- Gary Johnson | 0 | 882,413 | 0.68 |
| ---- Jill Stein | 0 | 353,858 | 0.27 |
Visits:
- North Carolina:2
- Ohio:2
- Virginia:2
- Colorado:1
- Florida:1
- Iowa:1
- New Hampshire:1
- Pennsylvania:1
- Wisconsin: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?I don't want to comment on an issue that is best left to the voters of Arizona.
- 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'm very worried about the falling water levels in that area. If this continues, then we would eventually need to consider taking action.
- To what extent should offshore drilling be permitted in the Gulf of Mexico?How can we be having this debate only two years after the Deepwater Horizon spill? Gulf Coast oil drilling should be severely restricted or banned.
- 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?I support the hardworking teachers and firefighters of Ohio and elsewhere.
- 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 The Defense of Marriage Act should be repealed.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?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.
- The United States has historically subsidized corn producers. With recent price increases in the corn market, do you still believe that such a program is necessary?The Department of Agriculture uses subsidies to rationally manage food production. It would be foolish to reverse that policy.
- Michigan was one of the hardest hit states in the recent recession. Do you support higher taxes on foreign vehicles while that auto industry regroups in that state?I think that's a little extreme. I do support measures to assist displaced workers in Michigan as they seek other jobs and education.
- Does it still make sense to provide military aid to Pakistan's government?I will undertake a full review of all military aid with a distinguished panel as soon as the election is over.
- 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.
- Would you support a Constitutional Amendment to overturn some provisions of the Citizens United ruling, affecting campaign finance by PAC's?Perhaps not a Constitutional Amendment. These should be reserved for the most serious of issues. I think we can investigate maybe other ways to prevent money from having an undue influence in politics.
- Should the DEA prosecute medicinal marijuana growers in states where that practice has been legalized?Is this a real question? Where states refuse to uphold their responsibilities, the federal government should step in. Perhaps we can argue about the severity of the penalty, but never about the crime itself.
- Would you consider a default on some U.S. debt obligations if the financial situation of the country continues to deteriorate?We need to consider all options. A controlled debt writedown just might be the best way to reignite the world economy, which is suffering from an abundance of bad debt at the current moment.
- Should American workers have the right to invest their Social Security withholdings in private accounts?We definitely need to make some changes to the Social Security program, but this is going too far.
- Are you satisfied with the provisions within the 2012 Federal Highway Bill that could salvage over two million jobs in the construction industry?Ideally we should be spending much more on our infrastructure. Doing so would increase overall employment and pave the way for future prosperity.
- Will you wear an American flag lapel on your suit as you campaign?Didn't Nixon invent this tactic as a cheap political ploy in the 1960s? This is far from the best way for someone to display their patriotism.
- The most recent data (for 2010) on Pell Grants indicate that 60% of all college students receive one. In that same year, the program cost $36 billion. What changes, if any, would you recommend to this program?Students are the future of this country and they need all the help they can get to make it through college, especially considering how much tuition has been increased over the past few years.
- This morning you went to an elementary school and read books to a class of second-graders. How did you enjoy yourself?I had a fantastic time. Days like today remind me of why we need more federal funding for education.
- What do you think the next steps should be in regards to Medicare?We must do whatever it takes to preserve Medicare. This program is one of the most important functions of the federal government.
- Elizabeth Warren is currently fighting the good fight in the Massachusetts Senate race. Would you be open to offering her a position in your Administration if she falls short there?Let's hope it doesn't come to that. She is a brilliant, talented woman and no matter what happens, there will always be a place for her in government.
- 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.
- The 2012 Federal Highway Bill that you signed bars the use of federal funds for red-light traffic cameras. Do you agree with this provision?This is a pretty minor issue. You know, I think there have been studies showing that these cameras don't necessarily help all that much. Or have there? In either case, we don't have time to read everything we're signing.
- 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?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.