Campaign Trail Results: Game #879121
Play The Campaign Trail
This Game:
- Year: 2012
- Player Candidate: Mitt Romney
- Running Mate: Marco Rubio
- 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 | 67,500,165 | 52.40 |
| ---- Barack Obama | 191 | 60,177,630 | 46.71 |
| ---- Gary Johnson | 0 | 844,777 | 0.66 |
| ---- Jill Stein | 0 | 303,699 | 0.24 |
Visits:
- Michigan:8
- Pennsylvania:3
- Washington: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.
- 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.
- 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.
- What is your position on gay marriage?I'm opposed this personally. I think that, you know, different states have different opinions on this matter and it's best left to them to decide on the issue.
- 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.
- In general, do you think bilingual education programs are a good idea?Bilingual education is never a good idea. Students should be immersed in English as soon as possible, to speed their assimilation into American life, and to enhance their long term prospects of success in our society.
- What is your opinion on the 'gunwalking' tactics that led to the 'Fast and Furious' scandal?The tactic of 'gunwalking' led directly to the death of a Border Patrol agent. If we see people breaking the law, it makes no sense not to punish them. I would support the removal of Eric Holder as Attorney General.
- Should middle school students learn about contraception in health class, or will this simply encourage them to experiment?I'm going to defer to local administrators on that question. That's not something the President should be involved with.
- 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 is the wrong way to reform the American health care system. We should be focusing on malpractice reform and on cutting red tape for private insurers.
- Would you support a Constitutional Amendment to overturn some provisions of the Citizens United ruling, affecting campaign finance by PAC's?Absolutely not. The right to disseminate one's political viewpoints freely is central to American democracy.
- 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.
- 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.
- Do you have any comment to make on the performance of Ben Bernanke as Chairman of the Federal Reserve?I'm a little disappointed with the overly cautious stance Bernanke has taken towards interest rates and other programs. By raising the inflation target we could reduce the burden of our private and public debt and spark a more vigorous recovery.
- The budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development was cut by nearly $4 billion in 2012. Do you think subsidized housing for the poor is a good place to begin reducing the federal deficit?We have to make difficult choices. I don't like this any more than most people, but small cuts are necessary to put us on a fiscally sustainable path.
- 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.
- Who are the real job creators in this country -- hardworking American citizens or Washington bureaucrats?American small business, obviously. I will be their champion as President.
- 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?The only day that matters is election day. I think the fundamental incompetence of my opponent will be obvious by that point.
- After episodes such as the 'flash crash' in 2010, would you support a small financial transactions tax, with the sole purpose being to target high-frequency trading systems?I'm opposed to this idea. The last thing we need to right now is create new forms of taxation.
- Do FEMA insurance payouts encourage real estate developers to build in disaster prone areas?It would be inhumane to suggest that we shouldn't be giving payouts to people who lose everything in a natural disaster.
- 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.
- During your tenure, Bain Capital laid off thousands of workers at various companies that it purchased. Are you proud of your work at that company?We created numerous companies like Staples, which are American success stories employing thousands of people.
- 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?I will emphasize the point that the Republican Party has a big tent. We are the party for anyone who tries to work hard and get ahead in America.
- 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.